Enhancing Your Spiritual Awareness

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” Hebrews 5:11

Truett Cathy once likened success to the growth of Chinese bamboo trees: not always obvious or instantaneous. Chinese bamboo trees do absolutely nothing for the first four years of their lives. Suddenly, during their fifth year, the trees often shoot up 90 or more feet in just 60 days! So, would you say they grew in six weeks or five years?

I wonder, how far along are you in your spiritual journey compared to where you ought to be by now? The writer of Hebrews chastises believers who, despite having been christians long enough to be teaching God’s word, remained spiritually mature. They were “dull of hearing,” which actually means “lazy listeners of God’s truth.” Often, your own spiritual stagnation is caused by lack of any desire to grow, contentment with your current state, or even fear of what God might ask you to do if you pursue him more deeply. Sometimes, it’s just simple lack of discipline.

Without consistent practices for growth, you become spiritually stagnant. Your spiritual life can be similar to that of the Chinese bamboo trees. If you do the right things long enough, you can eventually see growth.

Here are two ways you can enhance your spiritual awareness.

1) Become an intentional listener. Really concentrate on what God says to you when you read His word and talk about it with Him.

2) Become a restricted listener. Heed Paul’s advice from Colossians 3:2 where he says, “set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Set information filters for yourself and focus on the things of God, even if the world thinks you’re strange for doing so.