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Are
You Growing Spiritually?
William
Gaultiere, Ph.D.
Executive
Director of New Hope, Clinical Psychologist for ChristianSoulCare.com
For the
Christian life is about spiritual growth, drawing closer to
God and becoming more like Jesus. But many Christians confuse
growth with activity or effort. The following questions are
meant to get at the critical issues of spiritual growth to show
you whether or not you are maturing spiritually and to point
you toward the path of growth. Answer each question by comparing
yourself today with about six months ago.
-
Do you hunger for more of God in your life, longing to know
Him more intimately? (The closer you are to the Lord the
closer you want to be.)
-
Can you name people whom you are increasingly dependent on
as "Christ's Ambassadors" for God's care and guidance? (You
need one such relationship to survive and two or three to
thrive.)
-
Are you more aware of your sins and shortcomings and saddened
by how they hurt God, others, and yourself? (Experiencing
godly sorrow rather than condemnation or emptiness.)
-
Are you more gracious in response to your struggles and others'
struggles too? (Receiving God's forgiveness and favor and
sharing it with others.)
- Are you
more welcoming of people's feedback on ways you can improve
your personal life or ministry? (Viewing it as an opportunity
to learn and grow rather than condemning yourself or the person
who challenged you.)
- Are you
more controlled by God instead of yourself or others? (For
instance, obeying God's Word, trusting Him with money and time,
focusing on what He thinks over what others think, and relying
on what He provides rather than food, sex, drugs, work, or unhealthy
relationships.)
- Are you
more aware of God's presence? (Spontaneously thanking Him for
blessings, praising His goodness, listening for His voice, or
experiencing Him ministering through you.)
- Is the
fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) more evident in
how you treat yourself and others?
- Do you
have a greater desire to practice spiritual disciplines like
prayer, Bible reading, community worship, silence, or fasting?
(Rather than doing them out of duty or not doing them at all.)
- Are you
living with a greater sense of divine mission, passionately
using your gifts to serve God? (In your work, ministry, relationships,
or special projects.)
- Are you
better able to endure hardships and difficulties with a positive
attitude, trusting in the Lord to help you to learn and grow
through them? (Rather than developing a negative attitude,
blaming God or others, or seeking only to "fix" the situation.)
- Do you
have more hope and excitement about going to heaven to be with
Jesus so that you can worship and serve Him more fully? (Rather
than dreading death or wanting to hold onto life, people, or
possessions on earth.)
Count how
many yes answers you have out of the twelve questions. Each yes
indicates that in that area you are heading in the direction of
spiritual growth! You may want to retake this test in a few months.
What you want to see is an increasing experience of the life of
God in and through you over time.
William Gaultiere,
Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the New Hope Crisis Counseling
Center at the Crystal Cathedral and a Clinical Psychologist and
Spiritual Director with ChristianSoulCare.com. On his website
you can sign up for a free inspirational devotional e-mail.
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