What Helps You Grow Spiritually?

What event or activity has had the most profound effect on your spiritual life?

Most of us have only a vague idea of spiritual growth. While we'd like to deepen our relationship with God and become better people, we seem to have very little idea how that happens or what we can do to bring it about. 

It might be helpful for us to name the spiritual activities that have had the most profound effect on our lives.  I've listed a few here to get you thinking. 

Leave a comment about what has helped you grow. This isn't bragging--others will benefit by seeing what works in getting connected with God. 

Here are some things that have worked for others.

Time Alone With God 

This could be the classic "daily devotions," meaning a brief time of prayer and Bible reading, or could be interpreted more broadly as any time spent by yourself seeking God, like meditation or solitude.

Personal Prayer

Prayer is two-way communication with God. We often do this as part of our "daily devotions," but for some people prayer can be the dominant factor in spiritual growth that goes well beyond a few minutes a day.

Group Prayer

Christians usually pray as part of any gathering, and some of those prayer times include having one or more people pray aloud while others pray silently or listen. Praying with others or listening to them pray can be a powerful experience.

Bible Reading

God often speaks through Scripture. This is simply reading the Bible, not necessarily studying it or taking notes on it. 

Bible Study 

We can grow by studying Scripture, which goes beyond simply reading the words. This includes activities like discussing Scripture with a group of friends, digging deeper into the meaning of a particular verse, or taking a class on some aspect of the Bible.

Attending Church

Sunday morning worship is the most typical gathering of Christians. There we are connected with other Christians and with God. It usually includes prayer, singing, teaching based on Scripture, and sometimes the sacraments. This shared experience is like protein--not the only thing you eat, but a staple of your diet.

Preaching 

Expounding upon the Scripture is the primary element of worship in most churches. Many people point to preaching in general or to a particularly convicting message as the significant growth point in their lives.

Music

Music has a way of bypassing the mind and going straight to the soul. That makes it powerful tool for both individual and corporate worship. Whether alone or with a group, and whether by singing or simply listening, music can provide a moment when God clearly speaks to the heart.

The Lord's Supper 

Communion is the one element of our worship that was specifically ordained by Jesus. It is a "means of grace," meaning that this physical act of eating and drinking can become a moment when God speaks to us in a profound, spiritual way.

Groups

This could be a small group, Sunday school class, Bible study group, mentoring group, or a less formal meeting of two or more people. Some groups are focused on Bible study, others on fellowship or accountability, but the common element is communal focus on spiritual growth. 

Formal Training 

I don't mean classroom instruction necessarily. I'm talking about any form of intentional, structured, teaching on some aspect of the Christian faith. This could happen with a mentor or coach, by attending Sunday school or seminars, or by taking Bible courses in college. This is training that builds up your base of knowledge or understanding.

Informal Fellowship or Community Life 

People learn a lot from each other just by being together. It's possible that the primary engine driving your spiritual growth is something entirely informal--such as hanging around talking after church or small group, socializing with Christian friends, or doing some other type of activity together such as playing a sport or working on a project.

Retreats 

A retreat is time away from your regular routines that is focused on furthering your relationship with God. This could include brief informal times, like a half-day spent in prayer, or longer group times, such as youth camp or a Christian conference.

Doing Things for Other People

We usually call this ministry or service. It could include any action that you purposefully undertake to help others--from doing a favor for a friend at work to teaching a class at church to going on a mission trip overseas. When we extend ourselves for others, we usually benefit even more spiritually.

Giving Money 

The act of giving requires that we get beyond ourselves and focus on the good of others. Anytime we do that, we are likely to make spiritual progress. In particular, the decision to begin tithing or to give a large single gift can be a life-changing experience.

Suffering 

While this isn't an experience anyone should seek, some people report that they grew the most spiritually when they were faced with a great challenge, such as an illness or family tragedy. These experiences can be powerful because they force dependence upon God. Sometimes there is a secondary cause of spiritual growth, such as community support or increased prayer.

Spiritual Disciplines

All of these activities are really spiritual disciplines, but we often reserve that term for a certain group of spiritual activities that includes things like fasting, silence, confession, solitude, and penance.

Something Else

This is not an exhaustive list of spiritual practices, and it's possible that your most productive spiritual activity isn't listed here. If so, tell us what it is.

So what helps you grow spiritually?  What are the top three activities or events that have furthered your relationship with God?