Friday Discussion: Spiritual Growth

It’s Friday discussion time!

Let’s discuss spiritual growth…specifically yours.

I’m always interested in spiritual growth, because…well…that’s kind of what I do!

Help me by telling me some of your spiritual growth process.

To help you think, consider answering some or all of these questions:

Are you closer to God today than you were a year ago?
If not, what changed?
Is yes, what did you do differently?
What helps you most to grow spiritually?
Was there a time in your life where you felt the closest to God?
Who is mostly responsible, in your opinion, for your spiritual growth?
Do you practice any spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, tithing, etc.? If so, what do you do?
What changes would you need to make to grow more spiritually?

Help me out…tell me about your spiritual growth…

Discuss…engage…Go!

Comments (16)

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@RickRouth · 731 weeks ago

Easy. My wife and I began praying *together* that God would use us. We began to understand that the rocks can replace us if necessary, and our "responsibility" to serve and worship Him is actually a great gift! It's been a remarkably tough year ever since! We've had struggles, we've been attacked by the enemy. And in that falling and rebuilding process, our life group has doubled, we've personally found direction, and we're MOVING FORWARD! The more we give to God, whether that's time, communication, money, or gifts -- the more we receive in return. We are a living testament to that!

1 reply · active 731 weeks ago

ronedmondson 127p · 731 weeks ago

That's a hard and awesome prayer. Thanks Rick

Jon · 731 weeks ago

I've been a Christian for over 30 years. I'd always felt that I had a good relationship with God. I tithed, attended church, prayed, never was greedy in what I asked for, and was always thankful for even the smallest thing.

But apparently I was missing a lot. I wasn't faithful in reading scripture or a devotional and worship was good, but not great. I never really full trusted Him for all my provisions, even though He always provided. As the years went on I started to see abundant provision start to decline into barely enough provision. My job became less and less fulfilling, financial stresses increased and my attitude towards my wife started to get really bad. In some ways she fed this by not showing me the respect and love I deserved as her husband, but ultimately the things that brought my marriage crashing down around me were my fault.

I was much like Peter trying to walk on the water. I took my eyes off Him and I started to drown. He reached down and pulled me back onto the boat. During the last two years, I see where I have started to love Him better, read the scripture almost daily as well as do devotionals, I trust in Him more (although I'm still working on that), my attitude towards my wife is so much better (even though her love for me is gone at the moment), worship is such a deeper experience and I can see His hand more clearly. My marriage is still not restored and I long for that daily, finances are "better", but still not nearly as good as they were 15 years ago. The job is still frustrating, but at least I am learning to be content and I am thankful to have a job.

Bottom line is that I believe that I have grown so much spiritually over these last two years. I find great joy in just being. Yes, I miss my wife and her smile and touch, but that's OK... it's His plan. And the spiritual growth that I've experienced has been worth the pain.

Thanks Jon. Lots of "pain" answers today.

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Karen Haring · 731 weeks ago

The truth is, I am pretty much a dumb sheep. I tend to grow closer to God in the midst of trials. And when things are difficult, it's easier to pray and seek God and cry out to Him. When things are easy, I tend to forget...

These past two years have been filled with life crises in several close friends' lives. I have learned to cry to God in a new way; to ask for bigger things in bolder ways; to pray without ceasing. I pray God's Word, and it's really increased my faith and strengthened my trust in Him. Crying out to Him in desperation, and praying specific promises for needs I see around me, has deepened my relationship both with Him and others.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

I think many of us do...I feel like the dumb sheep many times.

I've also found myself fasting more than ever, mostly again related to specifically praying for those around me. It's been something that's helped humble me to depend on God more. I don't really view it as a "to do" thing; it springs more out of desperation.

Thanks Karen.

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Laurinda 72p · 731 weeks ago

John 13: 34-35 is the lynchpin to my walk with Christ. My testing and growth always come with loving other people.

I like it Laurinda! Thanks!

@WysWoods · 731 weeks ago

I am convinced that God started to have me measure my growth as I started to look forward to my repositioning ( my workplace Managers are calling it my retirement after being on the job for 43 years. I was ordained 10 years ago and I have been a healthcare professional for more than 40 years so my repositioning is from one ministry priority nursing to the EOL / Cancer care ministry. I am still planning to grow until I grow up spiritually maxed out.

Good insight. Thanks

tcmcgeejr 1p · 731 weeks ago

Truth is I may have grown the most through a season when I didn't feel close to God at all. Some call it a "dark night." I see growth as seasonal, usually beginning God interrupting our status quo with a call, trial or something we can only see in hindsight. We go through a process of giving up on our plans, methods and strategies to experience God in new ways. We also discover more of who he created us to be. We enjoy our new life in the new world for a while... until it becomes the status quo again. Sound familiar?

becky · 731 weeks ago

To help you think, consider answering some or all of these questions:

* Are you closer to God today than you were a year ago? I don't know if i really but it sure feels like it some days......
* If not, what changed?
* Is yes, what did you do differently? hubs and i have been consistently joyfully reading and journaling together of a morning for probably at least 7 years
* What helps you most to grow spiritually? our mornings begun with Him together, sharing and then praying through out the day. recently we have added 'i will' statements to the mornings
* Was there a time in your life where you felt the closest to God?
* Who is mostly responsible, in your opinion, for your spiritual growth? anyone who pointed me to Him...asked me questions, poked me, prodded me to go deeper myself
* Do you practice any spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, tithing, etc.? If so, what do you do?
* What changes would you need to make to grow more spiritually?

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Join the discussion 17 Comments

ronedmondson says:

March 11, 2011 at 5:12 pm

That's a hard and awesome prayer. Thanks Rick
becky says:

March 11, 2011 at 4:09 pm

To help you think, consider answering some or all of these questions:

* Are you closer to God today than you were a year ago? I don't know if i really but it sure feels like it some days……
* If not, what changed?
* Is yes, what did you do differently? hubs and i have been consistently joyfully reading and journaling together of a morning for probably at least 7 years
* What helps you most to grow spiritually? our mornings begun with Him together, sharing and then praying through out the day. recently we have added 'i will' statements to the mornings
* Was there a time in your life where you felt the closest to God?
* Who is mostly responsible, in your opinion, for your spiritual growth? anyone who pointed me to Him…asked me questions, poked me, prodded me to go deeper myself
* Do you practice any spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, tithing, etc.? If so, what do you do?
* What changes would you need to make to grow more spiritually?
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:09 pm
  
  Thanks for answering these.!
tcmcgeejr says:

March 11, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Truth is I may have grown the most through a season when I didn't feel close to God at all. Some call it a "dark night." I see growth as seasonal, usually beginning God interrupting our status quo with a call, trial or something we can only see in hindsight. We go through a process of giving up on our plans, methods and strategies to experience God in new ways. We also discover more of who he created us to be. We enjoy our new life in the new world for a while… until it becomes the status quo again. Sound familiar?
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:09 pm
  
  I understand…completely.
@WysWoods says:

March 11, 2011 at 10:36 am

I am convinced that God started to have me measure my growth as I started to look forward to my repositioning ( my workplace Managers are calling it my retirement after being on the job for 43 years. I was ordained 10 years ago and I have been a healthcare professional for more than 40 years so my repositioning is from one ministry priority nursing to the EOL / Cancer care ministry. I am still planning to grow until I grow up spiritually maxed out.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm
  
  Good insight. Thanks
Laurinda says:

March 11, 2011 at 10:02 am

John 13: 34-35 is the lynchpin to my walk with Christ. My testing and growth always come with loving other people.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:10 pm
  
  I like it Laurinda! Thanks!
Karen Haring says:

March 11, 2011 at 10:00 am

I’ve also found myself fasting more than ever, mostly again related to specifically praying for those around me. It’s been something that’s helped humble me to depend on God more. I don’t really view it as a “to do” thing; it springs more out of desperation.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm
  
  Thanks Karen.
Karen Haring says:

March 11, 2011 at 9:48 am

The truth is, I am pretty much a dumb sheep. I tend to grow closer to God in the midst of trials. And when things are difficult, it’s easier to pray and seek God and cry out to Him. When things are easy, I tend to forget…

These past two years have been filled with life crises in several close friends’ lives. I have learned to cry to God in a new way; to ask for bigger things in bolder ways; to pray without ceasing. I pray God’s Word, and it’s really increased my faith and strengthened my trust in Him. Crying out to Him in desperation, and praying specific promises for needs I see around me, has deepened my relationship both with Him and others.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm
  
  I think many of us do…I feel like the dumb sheep many times.
  - Elizabeth says:
    
    April 16, 2020 at 7:09 pm
    
    I am having the most difficult time of my life right now. I was abstaining from my own favorite past time, almost 16 months and I started fasting and I was trying to become closer to God. I wake up and I hear these voices in my head and and they were arguing with every decision I was trying to make. Like i thought i want water and it said you cant drink water anymore blah blah .
    And I tried praying and now its turned evrything around and saying all about the evils one and I feel blocked in my mind and heart and its telling to think about Jesus or read my Bible and all those things. I feel like something is trying to hurt my faith and others are saying it’s something else. So I was just curious had anyone else experienced anything of the sort.
Jon says:

March 11, 2011 at 7:26 am

I've been a Christian for over 30 years. I'd always felt that I had a good relationship with God. I tithed, attended church, prayed, never was greedy in what I asked for, and was always thankful for even the smallest thing.

But apparently I was missing a lot. I wasn't faithful in reading scripture or a devotional and worship was good, but not great. I never really full trusted Him for all my provisions, even though He always provided. As the years went on I started to see abundant provision start to decline into barely enough provision. My job became less and less fulfilling, financial stresses increased and my attitude towards my wife started to get really bad. In some ways she fed this by not showing me the respect and love I deserved as her husband, but ultimately the things that brought my marriage crashing down around me were my fault.

I was much like Peter trying to walk on the water. I took my eyes off Him and I started to drown. He reached down and pulled me back onto the boat. During the last two years, I see where I have started to love Him better, read the scripture almost daily as well as do devotionals, I trust in Him more (although I'm still working on that), my attitude towards my wife is so much better (even though her love for me is gone at the moment), worship is such a deeper experience and I can see His hand more clearly. My marriage is still not restored and I long for that daily, finances are "better", but still not nearly as good as they were 15 years ago. The job is still frustrating, but at least I am learning to be content and I am thankful to have a job.

Bottom line is that I believe that I have grown so much spiritually over these last two years. I find great joy in just being. Yes, I miss my wife and her smile and touch, but that's OK… it's His plan. And the spiritual growth that I've experienced has been worth the pain.
- ronedmondson says:
  
  March 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm
  
  Thanks Jon. Lots of "pain" answers today.
@RickRouth says:

March 11, 2011 at 7:01 am

Easy. My wife and I began praying *together* that God would use us. We began to understand that the rocks can replace us if necessary, and our "responsibility" to serve and worship Him is actually a great gift! It's been a remarkably tough year ever since! We've had struggles, we've been attacked by the enemy. And in that falling and rebuilding process, our life group has doubled, we've personally found direction, and we're MOVING FORWARD! The more we give to God, whether that's time, communication, money, or gifts — the more we receive in return. We are a living testament to that!