Christian Spiritual Awakening

In the awakening process there is a letting go that is intermixed with new understandings. You are letting go of concepts, ideas, and relationships that no longer serve you. This can be confusing since you have not replaced what you have let go of. You are in a vacuum.

The step to move forward is uncovering your discernment ability.

Discernment is taking the pulse of your own understanding of internal processes. Since we are all distinct beings, there is no need for others to agree with us. You are what you are. How you develop depends on what you choose to think. What you think will surely cause you to build thinking patterns and behaviors.

The discernment ability that you or I have today is a result of our thinking or the rules we have assembled on one topic or another. As you adjust your rules, you adjust the parameters of your discernment. This modifies your ability to discern fact from fiction, truth from falsehood, or very simply: what resonates with you and what does not resonate with you.

Awakening from a traditional Christian to a spiritual Christian has the characteristics I will discuss in the next section.

Personal development, in the context of spiritual growth, involves the maturation of cognitive, emotional, and social capacities. It equips individuals with the mental and emotional tools necessary to navigate life's complexities with great ease, fostering a sense of self-awareness and responsibility. Intentional choices, driven by a desire for spiritual growth, play a crucial role in shaping one's character and aligning actions with divine principles.

The journey of personal development begins with cultivating self-awareness, which involves understanding one's strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs. This self-knowledge allows individuals to make informed decisions that align with their authentic selves and contribute to their spiritual growth. Self-reflection, through practices like journaling, meditation, and introspection, is essential for gaining deeper insights into one's inner landscape. By understanding their motivations, desires, and fears, individuals can make choices that lead them closer to their spiritual goals.

Aligning Actions with Values: Spiritual growth entails aligning one's actions with their values, ensuring that their daily lives reflect their commitment to divine principles. This requires conscious effort to make choices that promote love, compassion, justice, and service to others. It involves resisting the temptation to compromise values for personal gain or social approval. Instead, individuals strive to live with integrity, making decisions that honor their spiritual beliefs and contribute to the well-being of the world around them.

Personal development is not without challenges. Life inevitably presents obstacles and setbacks that test one's resolve and faith. However, these challenges can serve as opportunities for growth and transformation. By embracing difficulties as learning experiences, individuals can develop resilience, perseverance, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship with the divine. Each challenge overcome strengthens their character and reinforces their commitment to living in God's spirit.

Ethical decision-making is an integral aspect of personal development and spiritual growth. It involves considering the moral implications of one's choices and acting in accordance with fairness, honesty, and respect for others. Individuals committed to spiritual growth strive to make ethical decisions in all areas of their lives, from their personal relationships to their professional endeavors. They recognize that their choices have consequences and seek to minimize harm and promote the greater good.

Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage one's emotions and others' emotions, is essential for personal development and spiritual growth. It enables individuals to build strong relationships, communicate effectively, and navigate conflicts with grace and empathy. By developing their emotional intelligence, individuals can create a more harmonious and fulfilling life, contributing to their overall well-being and spiritual development.

Emotional faith, often defined as believing in something not seen, plays a central role in spiritual growth. While faith may initially be based on external sources, such as religious teachings or traditions, it deepens and becomes more meaningful when grounded in personal experience. Direct encounters with the divine, whether through answered prayers, moments of profound insight, or feelings of divine presence, can solidify one's faith. They provide unwavering assurance of God's love and guidance.

The Nature of Personal Experience

Personal experiences of the divine can vary widely, ranging from subtle feelings of peace and connection to dramatic and transformative encounters. These experiences may occur during prayer, meditation, worship, or even in everyday life. Regardless of their nature, personal experiences of the divine serve as powerful affirmations of faith, providing individuals with a sense of certainty that transcends intellectual understanding.

Rationality of Experiential Faith

Believing in God is based on personal experience. It is entirely rational. The internal thought process often involves a deep sense of knowing God personally, trusting Him daily, and feeling His love. Encounters with nature, work, family, and acts of service can all remind us of God's presence. These experiences reinforce the feeling of being with a trusted friend or family member, fostering a sense of peace, safety, and care.

While personal experiences can strengthen faith, it is crucial to avoid the pitfall of basing faith solely on emotions or sensory experiences. Such an approach can be unstable, like taking refuge in temporary shelters during a storm. The idea that reality is based on feelings can lead to an identification with experiences too closely, make it difficult to accept differing viewpoints. Spiritual experiences should be filtered through the scripture's truth, which remains constant and provides a solid foundation.

Personal experiences should be balanced with a grounding in scripture and a religious tradition. These external sources of wisdom provide a framework for interpreting experiences and aligning them with established theological principles. Scripture and tradition can also offer guidance and support during times of doubt or uncertainty, helping individuals to maintain their faith even when personal experiences are lacking.

God gives humans the ability to do what they do, but does not cause everything they do. Humans act on their own initiative, using their abilities to do what they want to do. This is why humans not only have a sense of having free will, but they actually do have free will. The ability to make decisions about one's own life, actions, and character is what makes humans humans.

In spiritual growth, the ability to distinguish fact from fiction is paramount. The world is filled with diverse narratives, beliefs, and ideologies, some of which may be misleading or even harmful. Developing discernment, the capacity to evaluate information critically and identify truth, is essential for navigating the complexities of the spiritual journey and avoiding deception.

Reading fiction can enrich one's spiritual life by providing insights into reality and how to live well. Fiction presents truth through experience, opening a window to visions of the good life and helping discern which visions are false. Humans are story-telling creatures, and stories help us understand how to live well.

Fiction can point to the truth. Fictional characters and situations can help discern whether fiction is heading to the truth. Jesus' parables are examples of fictional stories that point people towards truth. Modern literature, such as The Wing and Feather Saga by Andrew Peterson, also deeply points to truth through its characters' inner struggles, family relationships, and highlighted virtues.

Critical thinking involves analyzing information objectively, identifying biases, and evaluating evidence before forming conclusions. It requires a willingness to question assumptions, challenge prevailing beliefs, and seek diverse perspectives. By cultivating critical thinking skills, individuals can avoid being swayed by misinformation or propaganda and make informed decisions based on reason and evidence.

Discerning spiritual truth requires intellectual rigor and spiritual sensitivity. It involves studying scripture, engaging in theological reflection, and seeking guidance from trusted spiritual mentors. It also requires a willingness to examine one's own beliefs and biases, recognizing that personal perspectives can sometimes distort truth.

Avoiding False Teachings: The ability to distinguish fact from fiction is particularly important in avoiding false teachings and deceptive spiritual practices. Throughout history, individuals and groups have promoted distorted or heretical views of God, humanity, and spiritual life. By developing discernment, individuals can protect themselves from false teachings and remain grounded in authentic spiritual truth.

While critical thinking is essential, intuition also discerns truth. Intuition, often described as a "gut feeling" or "inner knowing," can provide valuable insights that complement rational analysis. However, intuition should not be relied upon exclusively, as it can be influenced by emotions, biases, and wishful thinking. Instead, intuition should guide further inquiry and investigation.