Tips for Unlocking Spiritual Growth

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From a young age, the world tells us men that we have to keep growing to earn our manhood—our muscles, our bank account, our dating history. Other, smarter voices tell us to grow our character and become better husbands, fathers, and friends. But without learning how to grow spiritually, all this important work is unsustainable. 

 

Spiritual growth is the act of inviting Jesus into your life and becoming more like Him. Recently, I wrote about the journey of spiritual transformation that men need. Today, though, I want to provide practical tips on how to grow spiritually. 

 

Because far too often, people talk about it in nebulous terms when, really, it should be the most concrete thing in your life. So, here are 15 tips for unlocking spiritual growth in men, broken out into three major categories.

 

Invite Spiritual Growth Into Your Life.

Even though I grew up in a Christian household, I remember when I truly decided to live for God. It came at the end of college when I thought I had everything I wanted—friends, girlfriends, and a shot at an NFL career. Still, I was insecure and unhappy. Thankfully, God was tracking me down. Suddenly, making my purpose to live for him made a whole lot of sense. If you haven’t yet started your journey of spiritual growth, I encourage you to begin immediately.

  1. Clear away any previous conceptions that you have of God, and let Him show you who He really is. 
  2. Tell Jesus you believe He is the Son of God. 
  3. Thank Him for dying for your sins and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
  4. Commit to following Him for the rest of your life.
  5. Find a local community of believers to join.

 

Receive From God.

Once you’ve accepted Christ into your life, you can grow spiritually by receiving from God. Receiving might sound like a passive thing, but it’s not. I like to compare it to making a reception in football. I got to play with legends like Jerry Rice and Steve Largent. They both tirelessly practiced eying the ball with great focus, snagging and tucking it away with a vice grip so no one could knock it loose. It’s the same way you should approach your receiving.

  1. Be intentional. Set up a private space to be with God and receive your identity as His son
  2. Study Jesus’s life and apply His relationship with the Father to your own.
  3. Write down your questions, fears and struggles. Expect to see His answer and healing eventually.
  4. Pray from Jesus’ pattern of prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and ask Him who you should pray for.
  5. Thank Him for everything He’s given you. 

 

Bring God Into Your Daily Life and Relationships. 

Even though we need to spend time alone with God, spiritual growth in men is not a private thing. Use the power of a team to catalyze spiritual growth by bringing Him into every moment of the day and inviting Him to change your relationships. This is where you really start to see the fruits of your progress. You might find that you have more patience, grace, and forgiveness.   

  1. Pause and pray spontaneously throughout the day, alone or with someone if they’re open or need it. 
  2. Find someone who has been where you are now to mentor you in your spiritual journey. 
  3. Make a commitment to a friend or a few close friends to meet every week and help each other become more like Christ. 
  4. Serve your wife and children the way Jesus served his disciples. When you focus on what you can give instead of want you need, you’ll be amazed at the joy and depth it will bring to your life.
  5. Give back by sharing your journey of spiritual growth with others. 

 

Spiritual growth in men is not just possible—it’s what God asks from us. The good news? No one is perfect. But Jesus is, and He’ll be with you every step of the way.

 

Build Deeper Friendship with MenHuddle.

If you’re looking to deepen friendship and mutual mentoring, check out the PLAYBOOK FOR LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP—a guide that will help you connect with other men in a meaningful way and catalyze spiritual growth in each other’s lives.

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Spiritual Growth and Its Seasons of Transformation

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God asks every man to go on an epic journey with him. It’s a beautiful and difficult one, filled with obstacles that demand spiritual growth to overcome. Deep down, most people know they were meant to take such a journey. 74% of U.S. adults say they want to grow spiritually, according to a recent Barna survey. 

 

So, What is Spiritual Growth?

It’s the process of making yourself more like Jesus—turning away from what you want and being how Jesus was and wants you to be. 

Like any great adventure, spirits are high at the outset. Then we slip up. We get stuck. You might have good days, followed by bad ones. You think, “How do I know if I’m growing spiritually at all?” 

You’re not alone. Thousands of men have told me they feel the same way. I’ve also witnessed the way spiritual transformation takes place. Not only in my own life but in the lives of mentors and the men I’ve talked to about spiritual growth. 

I’ve found that we often can’t see spiritual growth until we’ve traveled long enough to understand our story and the spiritual seasons in it. 

 

4 Seasons of Spiritual Growth

My friend and mentor Robert Lewis has coached countless men to help them understand the seasons of growing spiritually. Metaphorically speaking, it starts in the winter of a man’s life.

 

1. Struggle

This is when we try things on our own, wrestle with insecurities, and try to position ourselves to win and feel good. We slip, slide, and crash. We can’t see the sun. It’s a hard season but very important.  If we move past it, it’s only because we’ve humbled ourselves. Plus, we’ve made ourselves vulnerable enough to talk about it, so we can later bond with others and positively impact them. Because we all struggle. 

 

2. Surrender

When we surrender our life, and take Jesus as our purpose, we move out of the bitter winter of Struggle and into the refreshing spring of Surrender. It’s often a time of rejuvenation, of seeing ourselves and our purpose with clarity. The ego-driven self-image fades away and you receive your identity as God’s son. 

Instead of thinking we have it all figured out, we turn to Jesus and mentors. We discover grace and follow God, receiving His unconditional love and guidance.

 

3. Significance

Then comes Significance. God has led us to our unique mission in relation to His purpose. We learn that spiritual growth is not a solo act. Our talents, passions, and story are repurposed to benefit the lives of others. We start making our part of the world better. Like an abundant summer, he produces good character in us and good fruit in our lives. 

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). 

Unlike the un-productive Struggle, our efforts bring growth and goodness with God. He has transformed us into men who live for others.

 

4. Satisfaction & Sharing

Our spiritual growth is never finished. But in the season of Satisfaction and Sharing, we are mature, grateful, and focused on others. God has rewritten our worst chapters. Now, it’s time to share our story to raise a new generation. This is mentoring and giving back. Like a perfect fall season, we gratefully share a full harvest with family, those in need, and tomorrow’s leaders. 

Try to take a step back and understand how God is leading you on a path of transformation and spiritual growth. What season are you in? Are you able to better understand how you are growing spiritually? 

 

Build Deeper Connections with MenHuddle.

If you’re looking to find a mentor or become one, check out the LEVEL 5 FRIENDSHIP PLAYBOOK—a guide that will help you connect with other men in a meaningful way and catalyze spiritual growth in each other’s lives. 

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