Are You Growing Spiritually?

By Bill Gaultiere © 2003

For the Christian life is about drawing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus.  But how do you know if you’re growing spiritually?

Many Christians confuse growth with activity or effort.  The following questions are meant to get at the critical issues of spiritual formation 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.

1. 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.)
2. 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.)
3. 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.)
4. Are you more gracious in response to your struggles and others’ struggles too?  (Receiving God’s forgiveness and favor and sharing it with others.)
5. 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.)
6. 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.)
7. 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.)
8. 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?
9. 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.)
10. 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.)
11. 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.)
12. 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 growing spiritually.

Thank you!