Overcoming Obstacles to Spiritual Growth

Obstacles to Spiritual Growth

The Christian faith is a journey of spiritual growth and development. As we grow in our faith, we encounter obstacles that can hinder our progress. These obstacles can be anything from our own doubts and fears to external pressures from the world around us. In order to overcome these obstacles, we must be willing to put in the effort to grow spiritually.

The Bible is full of examples of people who faced obstacles to their spiritual growth. In the book of Joshua, we see how Joshua was able to overcome the obstacles of fear and doubt in order to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. In the book of Daniel, we see how Daniel was able to remain faithful to God despite the pressures of the Babylonian court. In the book of Acts, we see how the early church was able to spread the gospel despite persecution and opposition.

These examples show us that it is possible to overcome obstacles to spiritual growth. Here are some tips for overcoming obstacles to spiritual growth:

1. Pray for Strength and Guidance

The Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is a powerful tool that can help us to overcome obstacles to spiritual growth. When we pray, we are asking God for strength and guidance to help us on our journey.

2. Spend Time in God’s Word

The Bible is the source of our spiritual growth. It is filled with wisdom and guidance that can help us to overcome obstacles. We should make it a priority to spend time in God’s Word every day.

3. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences

The people we surround ourselves with can have a huge impact on our spiritual growth. We should make sure that we are surrounding ourselves with people who will encourage and support us on our journey.

4. Persevere

The journey of spiritual growth is not always easy. We will face obstacles and challenges along the way. We must be willing to persevere and keep going even when it is difficult.

5. Trust in God

The Bible tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). We must trust in God and His plan for our lives. He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Quiz

1. What does the Bible tell us to do in order to overcome obstacles to spiritual growth?

A. Pray for strength and guidance
B. Spend time in God’s Word
C. Surround yourself with positive influences
D. All of the above

2. What does the Bible tell us to do when we face obstacles and challenges?

A. Give up
B. Persevere
C. Trust in ourselves
D. Trust in God

3. What does the Bible tell us to do when it comes to trusting in God?

A. Trust in ourselves
B. Lean on our own understanding
C. Trust in the Lord with all our heart
D. Pray without ceasing

4. What does the book of Joshua tell us about overcoming obstacles?

A. We must trust in ourselves
B. We must trust in God
C. We must persevere
D. We must surround ourselves with positive influences

5. What does the book of Daniel tell us about remaining faithful to God?

A. We must trust in ourselves
B. We must trust in God
C. We must persevere
D. We must remain faithful despite external pressures

Answers: D, B, C, B, D

Discussion Questions

1. What are some of the obstacles you have faced in your spiritual growth?

2. How have you been able to overcome these obstacles?

3. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with obstacles to their spiritual growth?

4. What role does prayer play in overcoming obstacles to spiritual growth?

5. How can we make sure that we are surrounding ourselves with positive influences?

FAQs

Q: What is spiritual growth?

A: Spiritual growth is the process of developing a closer relationship with God and deepening our understanding of His Word. It is a journey of faith that involves prayer, study, and obedience.

Q: What are some obstacles to spiritual growth?

A: Some common obstacles to spiritual growth include fear, doubt, external pressures, and negative influences.

Q: How can we overcome obstacles to spiritual growth?

A: We can overcome obstacles to spiritual growth by praying for strength and guidance, spending time in God’s Word, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, persevering, and trusting in God.