Once a person experiences true surrender to God the desire to connect with him causes a whole new world filled with spiritually inspired revelations to open up. Then questions about faith can leave a disciple feeling like a fish out of water. The Good Lord stimulates our thinking by personal application of scripture when He tells us “to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles”. This journey of the mind takes us into the moments where the depth of our fellowship with God is truly actualized by Holy Spirit.  Then our spiritual perspective on life becomes more and more apparent as we begin to learn new realities which describe Gods magnificence. 

 

 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom 11:33 – 36)

 

For those who have come from hopeless brokenness to a new reality in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17), the effect of this mission is to seek out God’s wisdom and knowledge so as to spiritually renew us internally for eternity. 

 

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2Cor 4:16-18)

 

This is where we relate to fresh desires to offer God proof of our affection by thinking about scripture so that by His understanding we have value to Him.

 

“I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom 12:1,2)

 

The challenge is to develop the new man in the way of thinking. The task is to lay to rest the principles of the world. This is a difficult and painful process when you consider how attached we are to countless worldly ideas and habits. As spiritual growth becomes obvious, every effort toward progress becomes that much closer to being hindered by old thinking and emotions like excess baggage. Then, while trying to make bold adjustments to our lives, we discover how much courage is needed to go beyond our comfort zone.  Concepts like virtue, self-control, and perseverance begin to present themselves as things that are appropriate to a good life but not necessarily part of the life we live.

 

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.” (2Pet 1:2-11)

 

The main objective of spiritual growth is: to become useful in a way that brings honour to God. However, to get there, the ability to overcome spiritual oppression is needed. To do this a disciple must maintain his spiritual perspective through a diligent exercising of grace and mercy toward others.

 

 “So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonourable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2Tim 2:21, 22)

 

In this pursuit, we naturally seek scriptural guidance on how to attain spiritual fulfilment and life skills for true contentment. 

 

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2Tim 3:16, 17)

 

Many a Christian has experienced what effect truth has in developing spiritual insight and personal application. This process involves an astute awareness of Holy Spirit and a willing submission to commit to God’s direction. The bible outlines three significant ways to accomplish this task and they are reflection, declaration, and resolution.

 

Reflection: is the process of self-realization and understanding. A confrontation of thinking that shows our complete willingness to move forward in a love relationship with God. This means making an honest self-appraisal and laying aside our emotional deformities.

“So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Coming to Him, a living stone — rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God — you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  (1Pet 2:1-5)

 

By conscientiously examining our personal liability’s we discover were to make critical adjustments in our thinking.

 

“But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load.” (Gal 6:4, 5)

 

The result of these observations provides real substance to our experience with the heavenly father as his power works in us – especially in themes of weakness.

 

“In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God’s power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God’s power. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test. And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test.” (2Cor 13:4-6)

 

By trying to understand our internal conflicts we can’t help but contemplate on those acceptable qualities that please God. It is this dependence on His will that solves problems and draws us closer to Him.

 

“So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” (Phil 2:12, 13)

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Declaration: results from personal reflection making our fellowship in Christ an insightful and humble experience. It enables us to practice truth relieving ourselves of harmful self-delusions.

 

“Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1John 1:5-10)

 

By acknowledging the power of God through Christ compassion, knowing that human nature was fully experienced by Him, we can’t help but be motivated to share that grace which He has given.

 

“Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” (Heb. 4:11-16)

 

This “ministry of the spirit” is important for uplifting one another by being more conscientious about harbouring shame as we make an honest dialogue.

 

“Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced shameful secret things, not walking in deceit or distorting God’s message, but commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in God’s sight by an open display of the truth.” (2Cor 4:1, 2)

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Resolution: is a matter of readiness.

 

“This is why you must take up the full armour of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” (Eph. 6:13)

 

It’s a preparation of the heart which compels our spiritual cooperation to the degree that the glory of God becomes apparent.

 

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2Cor 3:17, 18)

 

The undertaking here is to improve spiritual building materials that hold up through difficult times. Thus we accept that there are elements of our thinking that limit us and should be abandoned.

 

“For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building. According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.” (1Cor 3:9-15)

 

Internal reflection humble declaration and sound resolution are three God-given tools to help us on the path toward spiritual fulfilment and godliness. These precession instruments have been carefully crafted by God to allow His wisdom and knowledge to shine with incomparable brilliance. This being true, our devotion to spiritual growth becomes more than a cognitive process. It’s the bases of a meaningful and valuable relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Of course, our desire to practice these skills is the key element to any substantiation of spiritual progress. God has provided a scriptural way to show how wisdom and knowledge are the materials that make us accomplished builders.

Solomon was inspired to record the most comprehensive list of circumstances, thoughts, feelings and emotion to benefit from wisdom and knowledge. The council of proverbs offers discretion on every level from the simple and practical to the deeply spiritual.

 

“for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man — a wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance — for understanding a proverb or a parable, the words of the wise, and their riddles.” (Prov. 1:4-6)

 

The graphic nature and human approach of Proverbs are perfect for projecting Gods wisdom and knowledge. By using the proverb environment to reflect, declare and resolve whatever problems that may hinder our relationship we can’t help but grow spiritually.