A Great Start (PART 2)

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the concluding part of this topic. In the first part, I explained personal development and why it is vital for you as a woman. In this concluding part, I will focus on Spiritual Development.

Personal development covers three dimensions of man: the spirit, soul and body, and the spirit man is the real you. It is the first dimension of development and the most important. Therefore, you have to take spiritual steps to develop your spirit man.

The principal key to spiritual progress is a studious life. This means you must be committed to a careful and deliberate study of God’s Word and other anointed materials such as books, messages, etc. Paul, admonishing Timothy, said:  Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

I have observed that when it is examination time in schools, even students who have been playing during lecture hours will suddenly sit up to pay serious attention to their studies. When I was writing my ‘A’ level examinations many years ago, I remembered that some students preferred to stand up to study all night rather than sit down to keep awake. Some would even put their feet into a bucket of cold water because “Examination is on the way; I must study.”

That picture clearly shows how important studying is to success. Unfortunately, when it comes to studying spiritual materials, many are very complacent. Very few transfer that kind of zeal in studying for examinations to studying the Bible. It amazes me how many cannot afford to miss just a meal a day but can go through one whole week without studying one chapter from the Bible.

Below are some keys that will help you develop spiritually:

Planning and Consistency

Are you that person who always wishes you could study the Word more, and this forms part of your New Year’s resolutions? This is a good wish, but as someone rightly said, it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. Therefore, the first key to spiritual development is to plan your study of the Word. In studying the Word of God, it is usually helpful to follow a consistent programme. For instance, if you plan to read a particular Book of the Bible, read it from the beginning and finish it before starting another.

Personally, I mostly follow the book-by-book study method. I take a particular book of the Bible and ensure I read it through. I also read from books of the Bible each day, including Psalms and Proverbs. I don’t do this to have what to preach but so I can have what to live on and develop spiritually. Whatever method you adopt, it is important to be consistent.

Read Anointed Books

Another very significant method of personal development is reading anointed Christian books. My husband always says, “Only readers are leaders.” So, go for books, and as you read them, you will discover they will enhance your capacity to develop, thereby affecting your world positively. Apostle Paul told Timothy that he must study if he must be an approved minister of God (2 Timothy 2:15).

You can determine to read a book or two on a particular topic as it relates to you to develop in such areas. When you commit to a studious Word study, the grace of God is available for you to guarantee a victorious life.

Develop a Quality Prayer Life

Another way you can develop spiritually is to constantly improve the quality of your prayer life. I mean quality, not necessarily quantity. Ephesians 6:18 says: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Do you know you can stay in the prayer room for one hour and make less impact than another who stays only 30 minutes? The secret is the quality.

Increase the quality of your prayers by praying all kinds of prayers. The Bible says: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). Be fervent in your prayers as you pray both in your understanding and in the spirit.

Listen to Anointed Messages

You know your areas of need, so buy and listen to tapes that address those specific areas. I always admonish people not to borrow the tapes; buy them so you can listen to them again and again. Whenever you come across the Word that addresses specific areas of your life, write them down and go over them again and again.

Today, technological advancement has made messages portable and readily available. You could listen to messages on your iPod, YouTube, CDs, etc. The good thing about listening to messages on tapes is that even if you are busy doing other things, you can still benefit.

Personally, I never travelled anywhere in the world without playing messages to myself through devices to develop myself. Things don’t happen by chance; you have to make them happen.

Develop your spirit man

The Bible says: The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly (Proverbs 20:27). You must commit to developing your spirit man to be in tune with the Spirit of God. This will help you to be spiritually sensitive; lack of sensitivity brings about calamity. That is not your portion in Jesus’ name!

One major way to develop your spirit man is to play down on self. A carnal person cannot be spiritually sensitive. He or she cannot hear the voice of God because of worldly concerns about what to eat, wear, etc.

Personal development requires the Help of God, and to receive help from above, you need to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. So, if you are not yet born again, and you desire to do so, please pray this prayer with faith: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner, and I cannot help myself. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Precious Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the Living God. From today, Lord Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now, I am Born Again.

Congratulations! You are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave or forsake you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace, in Jesus’ name! Please write or call to share your testimonies with me through oyedepofaitha@gmail.com OR 08141320204 and 07026385437.

For more insight, these books, authored by me, are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian Bookstores: Cultivating the Garden of Your Home, Experiencing the Best of Marriage, Family, and Parenting, Marriage Covenant, and Making Marriage Work.