"The Path To Spiritual Growth"

July 23, 2023 | By Chuck

     Spiritual growth simply must be a top priority for Christians. When we think about what leads to spiritual growth, our go-to is typically Sunday worship, Bible reading, and prayer. Each of these things plays a huge role in a Christian’s spiritual progress and growth. But, I’d like us to dig a little deeper and consider not just prayer in general but a specific prayer. This is a prayer of David from Psalm 139 and one that might intimidate and even overwhelm some.

            “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) This prayer is so raw that it can be a bit scary. It’s a prayer of complete humility and surrender before the throne of God. The desire of this prayer is that God finds any “grievous way” in your heart or life and leads you away from it, “in the way everlasting.” To pray this prayer, one must be willing to be open and honest with God and his or herself.

            If I am willing to be so honest and transparent with God desiring Him to search my heart for any grievous ways, I am on the path to spiritual growth. I am confident that in God’s search of me, He will find things that are offensive to Him that I must work to overcome. Spiritual growth is when I can acknowledge the grievous ways God has found in me and seek His strength and help to make the right changes. When Christians can look back over their spiritual life and see sin struggles that God has helped them put away, that is spiritual growth. When we surrender all our heart and all of us completely to God in prayer, we can know that we are on the path to spiritual growth.