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How To Achieve Spiritual Growth. Discover 9 Ways To Grow Spiritually.

A picture of a man with his arms wide open, facing the sunset  on a hill, as an indication of spiritual growth.

Growing Spiritually

We can all agree that, at some point in our lives, we have felt spiritually disconnected from God. We try to pray, sing, and praise, but still, something is missing. You start to feel that God has abandoned you.

After years of spiritual battles, I discovered that authentic spiritual growth does not happen when we try harder, but when we surrender deeper. True spiritual transformation is not about perfecting our behavior; rather, it’s about drawing closer to God, which then naturally changes how we live.

As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 3:18, ”And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” The mission is not about grinding through disciplines – it’s about looking upon Christ until we become like Him.

In this post, you will discover simple but powerful ways to grow closer to God, no matter how far you feel you are from Him. You will learn how to find peace in tough times and find Faith that touches every part of your life. True Spiritual growth is here for anyone to take the next step in their journey with God.

9 Ways to Spiritual Growth

Here are the ways to grow spiritually and personally connected to the Lord. At the end, you will understand that Spiritual growth is not about doing more – it’s about being transformed from the inside out through a deeper relationship with God that changes everything.

'' wooden cross against a blue sky with white clouds representing spiritual growth and faith''

1. Receiving Christ As Your Lord And Savior

The main fundamental thing that every believer must accept deep inside their heart is to accept Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God, died on the cross for your sins.

One can never grow in Spirit if in their heart they have not fully accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and placed Him first above all things. We need to accept His forgiveness and love while acknowledging His rightful place as Lord in our lives.

When we accept Christ in our hearts, we learn how to stay close, spend time in His presence each day, and naturally draw closer to God, which helps us understand Him better.

”If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Romans 10:9-10

A man in a dimly lit room on his knees holding his hands together as an indication of prayer with an open bible. This is to show that we must be willing to change in order to have spiritual growth.

2. The Desire To Change

The desire to change and be a better person is a special feeling that you must have in order to grow spiritually.

Spiritual growth does not come overnight; it is a decision that you must personally make and should come from within your heart. For spiritual growth to take place within your life, you must have the desire to change your sinful way of life.

As we read in the book of Romans 12:2, it states, ”Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

According to the verse, it teaches us that to be transformed, we must have within us the desire to reject worldly patterns and be willing to submit to God’s renewal of our minds, enabling us to discern His perfect will.

3. The Holy Spirit

Spiritual growth in your life is only achievable with the Spirit of the LORD dwelling in you.

One thing you must understand is that, spiritual journey is not a solo journey-it requires divine partnership with the Holy Spirit. In the book of John 15:5, Jesus makes it clear by saying, ”I am the vine; you are the branches, whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

The reality is that we cannot produce genuine spiritual fruit through willpower, positive thinking, or religious activities alone. For your foundation in spiritual growth to be strong, you must have a divine connection and abide in Christ’s teachings at all times without ceasing.

A person with an open Bible with his hands together as a sign of prayer, indicating that we need prayer for spiritual growth.

4. Prayer

Spiritual growth not only comes from deeds, but also from a dedicated, prayerful life in all circumstances.

A prayerful life strengthens your relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. If you want to grow in Spirit, you must have it within you by praying to God to send the Holy Spirit to be a guide through the journey.

Remember that you do not have to be an expert in prayer so that you can feel you are communicating with God. He seeks a humble heart in His presence not perfection. So do not try making your approach seem perfect.

In the book of Mathew 6:6, it says ” But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This verse is a reminder of how we should pray.

 "Person kneeling in surrender and prayer, bowing before Jesus Christ in humble submission"

5. Surrender

Your surrender to Christ is one of the major foundations in your life if you want to achieve spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth only happens when you stop depending on yourself and place your full trust in God, and allow His transformative work in your life. When we ”deny ourselves and take up our cross daily” we create space for God’s will to shape us.

This humble submission, as Peter urges us to ” humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand” 1 Peter 5:6 positions us to receive His grace and wisdom, which helps us to grow in spirit.

Surrender opens our hearts to trust God’s perfect plan, fostering deep spiritual transformation and growth. When we let go of our own desires and follow God’s direction, we begin to change from the inside out. This trust helps us to become better people and grow closer to God everyday.

Medieval knight's helmet with polished steel and gold accents representing the Helmet of Salvation from the biblical Armor of God

6. The Armor of God

The Armor of God is essential for spiritual growth in your life because it protects you from spiritual attacks.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul tells us to ”put on the full armor of God” which includes;

  • Belt of Truth– This represents being grounded in God’s truth and reality, protecting against lies and deception
  • Breastplate of Righteousness– Symbolizes a life lived in accordance with God’s command, protecting the heart from evil influences.
  • Shoes of the Gospel of peace– Represents readiness and stability to share the good news of peace and stand firm in Faith.
  • Shield of Faith– The shield of Faith protects you from doubt and fear, blocking the enemy’s attacks through unwavering trust in God’s promises and power.
  • Helmet of Salvation– It protects your mind and thoughts from lies and deceit by reminding you that God has saved you forever.
  • Sword of the Spirit– This is God’s word that gives you power to fight temptation and defeat evil through Scripture’s Truth.
Open Bible with coffee cup on wooden table representing daily devotional time for spiritual growth and Bible study

7. Meditating on The Word

Meditating on God’s word is essential for spiritual growth because it helps us understand God better and learn His ways.

When we really take time and read God’s word, the truth starts to change how we think and live. Psalms 1:2-3 show us that people who love God’s word and think about it every day are like strong trees by a river that grow fruit.

As we spend more time thinking deeply about what we read, the Holy Spirit helps us understand new things and shows us how to use God’s truth in our everyday situations.

This regular practice leads to genuine spiritual growth because we begin to trust God more, understand His character better, and respond to life’s problems with peace rather than worry. Over time, meditation builds our spiritual maturity, helping us encourage others during difficult times and demonstrate God’s love through our everyday actions.

Congregation worshiping together in church sanctuary with raised hands, showing the importance of fellowship and community in spiritual growth

8. Fellowship

Fellowship with God is the foundation for all spiritual growth because it builds a personal relationship between you and Him.

Through consistent prayer, meditation on scripture, and worship, you develop a close relation with God that transforms both your character and perspective. Jesus emphasized this priority when He said,” but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well.” Mathew 6:33.

This personal connection enables you to discern God’s voice, understand His, and receive the strength needed to combat spiritual battles. Without spending time with God and not having a close fellowship with Him, your spiritual growth might just become going through the motions instead of real change in your heart.

When you spend regular time with God, you will grow the fruit of the Spirit and learn more about His love, grace, and the plans He has for your Life.

Black and white photo of a person sitting on a chair with head in hands in a contemplative pose, suggesting reflection during spiritual growth challenges

9. Do Not Fear Mistakes

When you are growing spiritually, along the way, mistakes are bound to happen, and that is completely fine.

The setbacks you will face should not discourage you because God uses what you see as failure to teach you a valuable lesson. Peter, a close Disciple of Jesus, denied Him three times during His crucifixion. Yet Jesus did not give up on Peter-He restored Peter and used Him to build the early Church.

God does not expect you to have a perfect performance; instead, He desires your sincere heart and willingness to learn. 2 Corinthians 12:9, Apostle Paul reminds us ” My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When you stumble in your spiritual journey, you can remember that God’s love for you does not diminish. He meets you where you are and continues shaping you into who He wants you to become.

Conclusion

As a believer, spiritual growth is one of the most important foundations that should be taken very seriously. As you begin your spiritual journey in Jesus Christ, always remember at the back of your mind that God is always with you.

At the beginning of things, it may look nearly impossible, especially for beginners but the main weapon is to maintain consistency. Currently, we are in a time where spiritual battles are fought almost at every moment of our lives. And it is required of us to stay strong, no matter the challenges.

The ways previously mentioned are fundamental for us to stay and grow strong in Spirit. As you go along this spiritual journey, remember not to lose hope, for there is always light at the end of the tunnel. God bless.

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