How Do We Grow Spiritually?
Many of us would like to make positive changes in our lives. We would like to become better people. However, when we begin the process, we find that it isn’t that easy. We tend to think that change simply involves right choices, but there is more to it than that. Healthy change must take place at a deeper level. It has to do with our heart, the place of values and motives. So how do we change our heart?
Though psychology has many faults, it has pointed out some basic principles regarding how we change. Many studies have found that the nature of the client therapist relationship is the most important factor in bringing about positive change in counseling. When qualities and attitudes such as acceptance, support and compassionate understanding were present, healing took place. Restated, loving attitudes heal and motivate healthy change.
The problem is that our human sources of love are frail. They are often the source of problems rather than the solution. Human sources simply don’t have the strength or consistency needed to be our core resource of love and support. They lack the ability to give us the security we need to move forward with confidence.
This brings us to the issue of our spirituality, our connection with God. I know many are turned off by religion. It frequently misrepresents God. Religion tends to focus
on what we should do, rather than on how we can do it. In contrast, spirituality deals with concepts that change our perspective on life which in turn motivates healthy change. Trusting in God’s love and care replaces our negative thinking with a constant source of security and love. This shift empowers us.
Since it is our understanding of God that inspires our trust, our picture of God is critical for this shift to occur. However, most of us have been handed a distorted picture of God. We must replace this distortion with a proper understanding of God’s love, or grace, so we can effectively connect with Him.
However, as we seek a connection with God, we must learn to “tame” our performance-based conscience for it tends to pressure and prod us into change. This is the wrong focus and methodology. Although the issues our conscience raise may be valid, the performance orientation is counterproductive. Goodness is a quality, not simply an action. Goodness must come from the heart. It can’t simply be learned or coerced.
For our choices to be genuine, they must be done freely. Only then can the issues involved be addressed on their own merits. The freeing nature of God’s love offers us freedom, acceptance and understanding in place of being “guilted” or pressured into action. Faith in God’s unconditional love motivates us to follow Him. Faith in the goodness of His way motivates us to seek His guidance as the best thing we can do for ourselves.
Changing our hearts also involves dealing with our need life, that endless pursuit of more or different. Our need life is the source of so much of our frustration and discontent. For us to be free, 0ur need life must be surrendered to God. What we won't surrender to God will rule over us causing pain and stress. We must take hold of the fact that God is big enough to deal with our needs and concerns. We must trust His promise to use our circumstances to bless us. Yes, we may experience painful situations, but knowing they have a positive purpose changes everything. Learning to trust our lives to God’s gentle care brings freedom and peace.
As we learn to experience God’s love and care, peace, joy and love will be the result, or fruit, as the Bible puts it. Peace, joy and love will then inspire good choices. Dealing with those choices will necessitate our turning to grace as the alternative to the legalistic moral atmosphere created by our conscience. The acceptance, mercy and understanding we experience through God's grace allows us to incorporate right into our lives freely, at our own pace. The conscience must bow to the authority of grace, for it is grace alone that inspires healthy change.
God accepts us unconditionally and meets us where we are. We change as we walk with Him. Learning to experience His understanding, gentleness and compassion creates a safe, comfortable place to grow. If we choose to live in the light of God’s love and care, we will find that peace, joy and love become more and more a part of our lives.
We will either seek change by focusing on what we do or we will seek it through abiding in the security of God's love and care. Only as we abide in God's love will we reflect that to others. Our lives are like mirrors, reflecting what we experience. If we turn our mirrors toward the problems and cares of life we will reflect that. In contrast, if we turn our thoughts toward the security of God’s love and care, we will reflect that. His love empowers us, freeing us from ourselves to be ourselves and live healthy, loving lives.
Copyright Patrick Fagenstrom 12/11
Click here to see the practical application of this.
Though psychology has many faults, it has pointed out some basic principles regarding how we change. Many studies have found that the nature of the client therapist relationship is the most important factor in bringing about positive change in counseling. When qualities and attitudes such as acceptance, support and compassionate understanding were present, healing took place. Restated, loving attitudes heal and motivate healthy change.
The problem is that our human sources of love are frail. They are often the source of problems rather than the solution. Human sources simply don’t have the strength or consistency needed to be our core resource of love and support. They lack the ability to give us the security we need to move forward with confidence.
This brings us to the issue of our spirituality, our connection with God. I know many are turned off by religion. It frequently misrepresents God. Religion tends to focus
on what we should do, rather than on how we can do it. In contrast, spirituality deals with concepts that change our perspective on life which in turn motivates healthy change. Trusting in God’s love and care replaces our negative thinking with a constant source of security and love. This shift empowers us.
Since it is our understanding of God that inspires our trust, our picture of God is critical for this shift to occur. However, most of us have been handed a distorted picture of God. We must replace this distortion with a proper understanding of God’s love, or grace, so we can effectively connect with Him.
However, as we seek a connection with God, we must learn to “tame” our performance-based conscience for it tends to pressure and prod us into change. This is the wrong focus and methodology. Although the issues our conscience raise may be valid, the performance orientation is counterproductive. Goodness is a quality, not simply an action. Goodness must come from the heart. It can’t simply be learned or coerced.
For our choices to be genuine, they must be done freely. Only then can the issues involved be addressed on their own merits. The freeing nature of God’s love offers us freedom, acceptance and understanding in place of being “guilted” or pressured into action. Faith in God’s unconditional love motivates us to follow Him. Faith in the goodness of His way motivates us to seek His guidance as the best thing we can do for ourselves.
Changing our hearts also involves dealing with our need life, that endless pursuit of more or different. Our need life is the source of so much of our frustration and discontent. For us to be free, 0ur need life must be surrendered to God. What we won't surrender to God will rule over us causing pain and stress. We must take hold of the fact that God is big enough to deal with our needs and concerns. We must trust His promise to use our circumstances to bless us. Yes, we may experience painful situations, but knowing they have a positive purpose changes everything. Learning to trust our lives to God’s gentle care brings freedom and peace.
As we learn to experience God’s love and care, peace, joy and love will be the result, or fruit, as the Bible puts it. Peace, joy and love will then inspire good choices. Dealing with those choices will necessitate our turning to grace as the alternative to the legalistic moral atmosphere created by our conscience. The acceptance, mercy and understanding we experience through God's grace allows us to incorporate right into our lives freely, at our own pace. The conscience must bow to the authority of grace, for it is grace alone that inspires healthy change.
God accepts us unconditionally and meets us where we are. We change as we walk with Him. Learning to experience His understanding, gentleness and compassion creates a safe, comfortable place to grow. If we choose to live in the light of God’s love and care, we will find that peace, joy and love become more and more a part of our lives.
We will either seek change by focusing on what we do or we will seek it through abiding in the security of God's love and care. Only as we abide in God's love will we reflect that to others. Our lives are like mirrors, reflecting what we experience. If we turn our mirrors toward the problems and cares of life we will reflect that. In contrast, if we turn our thoughts toward the security of God’s love and care, we will reflect that. His love empowers us, freeing us from ourselves to be ourselves and live healthy, loving lives.
Copyright Patrick Fagenstrom 12/11
Click here to see the practical application of this.
