Commitment to spiritual growth is the key to change and achievement.

Spirituality is not a religion or a philosophy and it does not belong to new age incense burning hippies. Spirituality relates to relationship and lifestyle. The type of relationships we have with self and others and the type of lifestyle we create for ourselves is a direct reflection of our level of spirituality.

So if we want to improve our relationships and lifestyle – we commit to spiritual development, and the first step toward spiritual growth requires changing the way we think. In a sense, it requires a spiritual renewal around our thoughts and attitudes.

The way we think determines the way we feel determines the way we act determines the way we create.

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” proverb 4:23

Unfortunately we have a tendency to run on autopilot, that is, old tapes playing constantly in our head, shaping our thinking and therefore our behavior. Willpower has been proven ineffective when it comes to switching off autopilot. Whilst sheer will can produce results, they are usually short-term changes that create internal conflict and stress because it is not our natural behavior.

According to Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life: there are two parts to spiritual growth or CHANGE – a ‘work out’ and a ‘work in’.

“The ‘work out’ is your responsibility, and the ‘work in’ is God’s role. Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between you and the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit works with us, not just in us.”

Warren clarifies this statement by saying it “is not about how to be saved, but how to grow… During physical ‘workout,’ you exercise to develop your body, not to get a body.”

Our ‘work out’ requires us to be responsible and mature with our thinking and attitude – we grow up! The ‘work in’ requires meditation and prayer to evoke natural change – we grow rich!