Spiritual Formation ∙∙∙

Spiritual Formation ∙∙∙

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment. – 1 Peter 2:2

Ephesians 4:15 We are to grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head.

2 Peter 1:3-8

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Resistance to Growth

Peter Pan famously resisted growth and development. He had no desire to mature or assume the responsibilities of adulthood. His dream was to remain forever a child, living in the carefree, whimsical world of Neverland.

As the lyrics from Peter Pan illustrate:

“I won’t grow up; I don’t want to go to school.
Just to learn to be a parrot and recite a silly rule.
If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, not me!”

Peter Pan’s anthem of perpetual childhood reflects a longing to evade the challenges, responsibilities, and transformations that accompany the transition to adulthood. While this sentiment may seem lighthearted or even charming, it is in stark contrast to the Christian call to spiritual growth and formation.

In the Christian life, growth is not optional. It is a vital and ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, embracing the challenges and changes that lead to spiritual maturity. Unlike Peter Pan’s refusal to grow, children of the King are called to leave behind spiritual immaturity and engage in the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, trusting in God’s plan to shape them for His purposes.

What Is Spiritual Formation?

Spiritual formation is the process of becoming more like Christ through the transformation of our innermost being. It is a Spirit-led journey in which the Holy Spirit reshapes the very core of who we are. As Dallas Willard described, it is “the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self to take on the character of Jesus Christ.” 

At its essence, spiritual formation is about deepening our relationship with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring about a profound inner transformation. This change is not instantaneous but unfolds gradually as we surrender to the Spirit’s work. Over time, we learn to think, love, and live in ways that reflect the character and teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Though the term spiritual formation may sound modern, it has deep roots in the Scriptures and the history of the Christian faith. The idea of being transformed into the likeness of Christ is a recurring theme of the New Testament. It is often expressed through phrases such as “maturing spiritually,” “growing in grace,” “being sanctified,” “walking in faith,” “spiritual renewal,” or “walking with Christ.”

Central to spiritual formation is the renewal of our minds and hearts, aligning our thoughts, desires, and actions with God’s will. The Scriptures serve as the foundation for this transformation, offering the guidance and truth necessary for growth. Engaging with the Bible, through study, meditation, and reflection, is essential to this process. These practices not only shape our understanding but also refresh our minds and help us live in alignment with God’s purposes. 

This journey of spiritual formation is lifelong, requiring intentionality, humility, and a deep reliance on both the Holy Spirit and the Word of God as sources of wisdom, reformation, and renewal. 

Through this transformative process, we are shaped into the image of Christ, becoming reflections of His grace, love, and truth in the world.

The Role of the Word and Renewal

A key element of spiritual transformation is reshaping our minds, hearts, and desires to align with God’s. The Scriptures serve as the essential foundation for this transformation, providing the guidelines necessary to understand and live in accordance with the Father’s ways. By embracing these timeless principles, our beliefs and thoughts are refined and revitalized.

Engaging regularly with the Bible, through study, meditation, and reflection, is vital. These practices deepen our understanding and help us align our lives with God’s thoughts and ways. This process goes beyond intellectual effort; it fosters profound inner renewal. Over time, a strong desire to live according to God’s Word takes root, becoming a source of confidence, purpose, and passion. Through this alignment, children of the King are empowered to grow, mature, and live lives that reflect the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECT & PRAY

As we grow spiritually, we become more like Christ. This growth is a lifelong journey that requires intentionality, humility, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This metamorphosis is not optional; it is the Father’s personal goal for each child of the King.

2 Peter 3:18 reminds us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Father, thank You for working to grow me up. Spiritual formation is your personal goal for each child of the King and for me.

INSIGHT

The Beauty of Falling in Love with God’s Word

For many children of the King, the Word of God becomes a source of deep joy and delight. The more time spent in Scripture, the more its beauty and richness are revealed. There is truly nothing else like it on Earth. Imagine the satisfaction of savoring your favorite meal; that same joy is what many children of the King experience as they grow in their relationship with God’s Word. Once this bond is formed, it becomes an unshakable foundation.

As Psalms 19:10 says, “They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.”

The Word of God is not just a source of knowledge; it is a treasure that nourishes the soul, bringing sweetness and fulfillment that nothing else can match.

The Lifelong Journey of Spiritual Formation

Spiritual formation is not a process that can be rushed. It is a lifelong journey that unfolds according to the Father’s perfect timing. The natural world offers a powerful metaphor for this process. The more complex and advanced an organism, the longer its growth takes. Similarly, the Father’s work in us is designed for eternity, and the timeline is entirely in His hands.

New believers often experience an initial burst of enthusiasm, diving headfirst into their spiritual journey. However, this rapid pace is not sustainable. The Father Himself adjusts the tempo, ensuring that growth occurs in the right way and at the right time.

As Strong once observed, “When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months.”

Growth Through Seasons

Spiritual formation often mirrors the seasonal patterns of nature. Consider the growth rings of a tree: some years show significant growth, while others reveal slower, steadier progress. During these slower seasons, growth is consolidated and strengthened, often through challenges such as testing or drought.

Strong explains, “Growth is not a uniform thing in the tree or in the Christian. In some single months, there is more growth than in all the year besides. During the rest of the year, however, there is solidification, without which the green timber would be useless. The period of rapid growth, when the woody fiber is actually deposited between the bark and the trunk, occupies but four to six weeks in May, June, and July.”

The periods of slower growth are not wasted; they are essential for building resilience and depth.

The Father’s Methods

The Father’s method for spiritual growth is complex, encompassing both delight and difficulty, success and adversity, and times of action and stillness. As Sanford insightfully notes, “The Husbandman’s method for true spiritual growth involves pain as well as joy, suffering as well as happiness, failure as well as success, inactivity as well as service, death as well as life.”

This process is not about striving to gain what we lack. Instead, it is about recognizing and embracing what is already ours in Christ. Rooted in childlike faith and trust, spiritual growth rests in the Father’s loving care.

As Philippians 1:6 reminds us: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Engaging in the Work of Spiritual Formation

Biblical spiritual formation is an active collaboration with the Father as He transforms our lives. This journey tests our determination, resilience, and character. The path is rarely smooth, and at times it can feel overwhelming or even impossible to navigate. Yet spiritual growth is not defined by the magnitude of the challenges we face but by the effort, faithfulness, and trust we bring to the process.

As John Wooden remarked, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

The allure of Neverland, a place of perpetual childhood and avoidance of growth, should remain a distant memory. It was, after all, a fairy tale. Spiritual formation calls us to move beyond childish ways and embrace the Father’s transformative work. Through this process, He shapes us into the image of Christ, preparing us for His purposes. Though challenging, this path leads to true joy, purpose, and fulfillment in our walk with the Lord.

The apostle Paul encourages us in Romans 12:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

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© Dr. H 2026