How to Gain a Deeper Connection to Grow Spiritually in Christ
It is vital for Christians to cultivate their personal relationships to gain a deeper connection and grow spiritually in Christ. Christian living dictates that we have our own individual relationship with Christ and live our daily lives in service to Him, surrendering our hearts and lives to Him. However, there are specific ways in which we accomplish a deeper connection to grow spiritually in Christ. Below, I will discuss five ways that I maintain a spiritual relationship with Christ.
Pray Fervently and Persistently
Praying fervently and persistently is the most important way to establish your personal relationship to grow spiritually in Christ. We should begin and end our day in prayer. And we must be fervent and persistent – praying sincerely and never ceasing. As Christians, we all know that there’s power in prayer and that we serve the only living God with actual power to effect change.
James 5:16 “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
When we approach God, we must be reverent and sincere and come to Him with faith believing that he will answer our prayers. Also, we must be specific and name our needs, whatever they are, whether it’s to be drawn closer to Him, to strengthen our faith in Him, or to ask Him to fulfill a desire in our lives. Be specific. Finally, we must be patient and perseverant while waiting on Him.
Psalm 145:18-19 “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him in truth; He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him, He also will hear their cry and save them.”
Study the Bible with Purpose
1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow.”
When we read the Word, we must not read for the sake of reading, or feeling good about ourselves that we read the Bible today. But we must read with purpose – to learn more about Him, to draw closer to Him, and to apply the Word to our lives, so that we may be changed and become more like Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit; thereby, growing spiritually in Christ.
The Bible is Christians’ road map for our journey as pilgrims on this earth. It has aspects of all of life’s circumstances – hardships, suffering, sickness, celebrations, good times, etc. And, there’s a scripture that covers all aspects to help inspire, encourage and guide us. So we should learn from others’ experiences in the Bible and use them as a stepping stone to inspire us on how to approach our own situations and lean on God for help, wisdom, and guidance.
Case in point, there’s King David in Psalms who committed adultery and then murder to help circumvent the situation. He prayed fervently, confessed, and repented to God for forgiveness. Then God proved faithful to him and forgave David, protected him from his enemies, and provided for him in times of need.
Then, there’s Job, God’s most faithful servant. He suddenly lost his sons, wealth, and health, which left him, at first, confused because he believed he was serving the Lord righteously. He fell into deep despair and cursed the day he was born. However, he persevered and maintained his faith and trust in God, and declared:
Job 13:15 “Though He slays me, yet I will trust Him.”
In the end, God proved faithful and restored Job’s health and wealth to him.
Moreover, in the New Testament, through Jesus’ own words, He taught us how to live our lives as followers of His. He demonstrated His love to us, healed the sick, raised the dead, and provided peace and comfort to those who needed it. As well, His disciples continued on with His message to encourage us to keep the faith and live for Jesus Christ.
The Bible is rich in examples of life’s circumstances that Christians face today. And we are not alone, because He promised to be with us until the end – we just have to trust Him on that promise. In the same way that David and Job faced all types of life’s challenges, God is still faithful to forgive us, restore us, protect us, and provide for us. Studying the Bible with a purpose increases our knowledge and brings us closer to Christ, thereby enabling us to grow spiritually in Him.
Confess, Repent, and Abstain from Sin
When we confess, repent and abstain from sin, it proves our devotion to Him and helps us grow spiritually. As we are not perfect, there will be times that we will sin, but it’s no excuse to continue sinning – we must abstain. Jesus forgave the adulteress, who everyone wanted to stone, and told her to: “go and sin no more.” The same is true for us today, we need to abstain from sin to live righteously.
John 8:1 “Go and sin no more.”
God hates sin and it is imperative that we confess and repent of our sins daily. Otherwise, He won’t respond to our prayers, and they will be in vain. Furthermore, unconfessed, unrepentant, and continued sins are a great hindrance to our spiritual growth and receiving healing and restoration. As well, it separates us from God spiritually as we become unrighteous and unholy, and feel guilty and ashamed. Although Jesus died to forgive our sins, He still punishes sin when we constantly live in sin without accountability to Him.
Psalm 99:8 “Thou answered them, O Lord our God. Thou was a God that forgave them, though Thou took vengeance on their inventions (wrongdoings).”
Be in Service to One Another
1 Peter 1:22 “Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.”
Another way to grow spiritually in Christ is by honouring Him by being in service to one another. Loving, caring for, and forgiving one another. Not judging or condemning others; instead, praying for them. We should honour Him by following His examples. Demonstrating Jesus’ examples proves we are applying His Word to our lives helping us to grow spiritually.
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love. In honour preferring one another.“
Luke 6:36 “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”
Being there for one another in their time of need is also what Jesus expects of us and proves our service to one another. No matter what they are in need of, we should acknowledge their request and make some attempt to help them, even if it’s just prayers on their behalf. And whatever we do, we must do it in good faith.
Worship Him Through Music
Worshipping through Christian music, singing to Him sincerely, lifting Him up in praise, and glorifying His name will evoke spiritual emotions within you. You’ll feel love and adoration for Him, yearning for a deeper connection, and oneness with the Holy Spirit, instilling the desire within you to grow spiritually in Christ.
Finally, to gain a deeper connection in order to grow spiritually in Christ takes devotion and sincerity. We need to pray fervently and persistently, study our Bibles with a purpose to gain more knowledge of Him; live our lives according to the examples which He showed, being in service to one another. And, confessing, repenting, and abstaining from sin. Praising, glorifying, and worshipping Him through music.