God's Plan for Spiritual Growth

Five Disciplines That Deepen Your Walk with God

By T. Windahl

Spiritual practices are an important part of the Christian life. As we incorporate them into our lives, rather than being a burden, these practices become beautiful facets of God’s grace as He uses them to grow us spiritually—both in our relationship with Him and in godliness.

The number of spiritual practices available to us on our Christian journey makes a long list, but I’m reminded of some of the practices I have incorporated into my own life. I’ll share them below using a gardening metaphor to give us a memorable picture of each one of them.

Engaging with God’s Word (Growing Deep Roots)

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

Of the many spiritual practices available to us, engaging with God’s Word has transformed my life the most. We can engage with it by hearing it, reading it, meditating on it, studying it, memorizing it, and obeying it. It also became my delight when I engaged with it amidst four cancer diagnoses within ten years (1991–2001). Like the psalmist wrote in Ps. 119:92, I, too, would have perished in my affliction if God’s Word had not been my delight—perished from a lack of the hope, joy, comfort, peace, and more that God gave me through its pages.