Keep Growing
Your Spiritual Formation
By now you’ve probably heard Pastor David say that the COVID-19 pandemic has made us more aware that we are all responsible for our own spiritual formation.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term spiritual formation, it is simply a phrase to describe the process of discipleship—becoming more like Christ. In order to become more like Him, you need to get to know Him well. And nobody can do that for you. There are some everyday disciplines you can practice to help you cultivate your personal relationship with the Lord:
Stillness
Psalm 46:10
Schedule time to meditate on the word of God and just be quiet before Him. For most of us, it takes a lot of effort to learn to be still. It means we have to shut off all our technology, get alone, and ramp down the noises in our heads.
Tip: Have pen and paper handy so that when random, “urgent” thoughts crowd in, you can jot them down and deal with them later.
Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Talk to God. Pour out your heart to Him. Ask for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. Bring your concerns and requests.
Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16
Read the Bible. Knowing the Bible is how we learn to know God, because it is His inspired word. There are many types of Bible studies. Find one that works for you. Then try another one. A few suggestions:
If you’re new to the Bible, you may want to start by studying the life of Jesus in the gospels (begin with John, then go back to Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
Spend time in the Psalms.
Read the One Year Chronological Bible.
Study one book of the Bible extensively. Then another.
Use the technique of Lectio Divina.
Read scriptures in the Amplified Bible to see extended meanings of different words.
Learn the proper context of scripture passages, then memorize and pray the word appropriately.
Don’t own a Bible? You can read the Bible free online at biblegateway.com. You can also download the YouVersion Bible app to your device.
Obedience
James 1:22-25
Scripture teaches us what God requires of us. When you learn from the Bible, put it into practice.
Cooperation with the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:5-6
The Holy Spirit is the one who brings us to Christ in the first place. He is our Comforter, Helper and Counselor. As we learn to be sensitive to His leading, He will teach us how to follow Jesus.
Worship
Hebrews 13:15-16
God deserves our worship. The more we come to know Him, the more we love Him. It gives Him joy when we express our love to Him. Praise Him throughout the day, every day.
Community
Acts 2:42-47
God’s family grows when we fellowship together, learn from each other, serve each other, care for each other, and learn to love in a greater capacity. If you attend Living Streams, we encourage you to join a Life Group
Serving the Poor
Proverbs 19:17
God’s heart is for the poor. He requires us to share what we have been given.
Sharing Our Faith
Acts 20:24
Whether we feel it or not, God wants us to reach out to a hurting world with the good news that is found in Christ. We don’t have to be eloquent. We just need to prayerfully share from our hearts what little we know with anyone who needs to hear it.