Blog | Greater Formation

Reflection and Action: A Rhythm for Spiritual Growth

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When was the last time you simply spent time with the Lord—not reading for information, not asking Him to do something, but just talking with Him, listening, and seeking His counsel for your life? Isn’t that what it really means to seek Him? (Psalm 27:8; Psalm 105:4)

I am convinced that one of the greatest ways to grow in wisdom and in the counsel of the Lord is through reflection with Him. In those quiet moments, we become more aware of His presence, hear His voice more clearly, and grow in spiritual authority as we learn to obey what He shows us.

Someone once said, “Action without reflection is meaningless action.” In the same way, reflection with the Lord—anchored in His Word—gives us divine perspective. As we consider our lives in His presence, the Holy Spirit teaches us (John 14:26). We begin to see ourselves more clearly and discover how to live practically in His Kingdom.

But here’s the key: reflection is not about self-evaluation or “producing a better version” of ourselves....

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How Jesus Lived and Invites Us To Live

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What Are You Missing Right Now?

Have you paused lately to notice what’s happening around you?

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives—the next task, the next goal, the next “important” thing—that we overlook the bigger picture. We become so focused on our own activities that we forget: life is bigger than us.

There’s a whole world, even a whole universe, moving around you right now. And more importantly, God is already at work in that world.

The Kingdom Doesn’t Start With You

Here’s a vital truth: the Kingdom of God doesn't begin with you. It doesn’t depend on your plans, your efforts, or your creativity. The Kingdom is the result of God’s will in action, a manifestation of His purposes unfolding all around us.

It’s been said that God most appreciates what He initiates. That means our role is less about trying to force something to happen, and more about learning to recognize and respond to what God is already doing.

Shift From Striving to Respondin

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Spiritual Focus in a Rapid-Fire World

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In playoff sports, when the clock winds down and the stakes rise, everything intensifies. The game seems to slow—yet every movement accelerates. Every pass, every play, every decision carries weight. The pressure is palpable, and nothing feels insignificant.

In a similar way, we are living in a high-stakes, high-intensity moment in God’s redemptive story.

Scripture reveals a sweep of progressive revelation from the promises of old, to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. This launched what the Bible calls the “Last Days”—a period that has now stretched over two millennia.

These are days of revelation and power. Days where the Spirit is active. Days in which the Church is called to demonstrate God’s love to the world. Days of preparation—for the end of life as we know it and the beginning of eternal life to come.

Could it be that we are now in the final stretch of these Last Days?

You don’t have to be prophet...

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"Build a Powerful Life: Do You Have the Right Elements?"

holy spirit integrity maturity skillfullness Feb 01, 2025

What makes a life truly whole and mature?
Knowledge, wisdom, discipline, spirituality, physical strength—the list could go on.

Many chase achievements, hoping for significance, yet a solid, impactful life is surprisingly simple.

The psalmist Asaph summed up King David’s leadership:

"David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them." (Psalm 78:72)

These two qualities—integrity of heart and skillful hands—lay the foundation for a life that lasts.

Integrity of Heart: The Foundation

Integrity is undivided, single-minded purpose. It keeps a life steady, like a seaworthy boat—no leaks, no detours. It’s not just an outward display but an inward reality, forged through consistency, follow-through, and trust in God’s help.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)

Skillful Hands: The Execution

Skill isn’t just knowledge; it’s the ability to apply wisdom with precision. It’s emotional intelligence, timing, an...

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Are You An Animated Adventurer?

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Do you ever feel spiritually dry?

Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as Rivers of Living Water – that can flow from within you. (John 7:38)

Do you ever feel powerless?

Jesus said you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you … and you will be His witness. (Acts 1:8)

Do you ever feel lonely, isolated or unloved?

The apostle Paul said that you have received a Spirit of Adoption – with all the rights of a first-born son – who calls out within you “Abba, Papa.”
(Romans 8:15) Paul also implored us to keep being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

The Holy Spirit applies and animates the life, power and wisdom of God in our lives. He makes Jesus real within us. He is the gift of God, and He is God Himself. He gives us intimacy with our Father in heaven. He gives us heavenly power to accomplish heavenly ...

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Fan the Flame

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You were uniquely and intentionally created by God. He imagined you and spoke you into being. He breathed His creative life into your mother’s womb, at a specific time, in a specific setting, with specific strengths, abilities and weaknesses. He has seen and overseen your circumstances and promises to bring good out of every situation. He will use hardship as discipline to teach you about Himself, His Kingdom and how life works.

As you love Him, look for Him and learn His ways, He will unlock His ancient paths which have been prepared for you. God has purposely planted you, and He wants to help you grow; it’s who He is and it’s who you are in Him. He also wants you to live by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Somehow, when we become believers in Christ we experience a kind of spiritual upgrade. God magnifies our abilities to perceive, experience and express the Kingdom of God. This spiritual expansion is often
accompanied by fillings of the Holy Spirit that impart particular giftings an...

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How To Know The Voice Of The Lord

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“What do you think Jesus is saying to you at this point in your life, in the context of the challenges and opportunities you are facing?
What indicators give you some measure of confidence that it is indeed Jesus speaking to you rather than someone or something else?”

These two questions start Gordon Smith’s introduction to his book, The Voice of Jesus.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) Being a Christian means following Jesus Christ as Lord. It doesn’t mean to follow principles or even teachings, it is more personal than that. It is a matter of following the person of Christ by the help and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Hearing the voice of Jesus involves the inner witness of the Spirit of God and the outer witness of the word of God, and often the support of other believers. It is critical for Christians to “hear” the voice – or sense the leading – of the Lord. Yet, many don’t seem to make this a priority in their lives.

If yo...

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Power for Kingdom Living

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If you want to experience God’s presence, if you want to understand His ways and counsel, and if you want to live in His power, you are going to need the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit. For some this statement sounds boring and theological. For others it might be off-putting, and sound too “charismatic.” For yet others, it is intriguing and enticing. For everyone – it’s true.

Only the Holy Spirit can reveal, communicate and empower the Kingdom of God in and through you.

The book of Luke makes it clear that Jesus did His ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was/is the Son of God – fully God. And, He was/is the Son of man – fully human. He lived and experienced life just like we do – Jesus was fully human. However, He was also anointed (enabled) by the Holy Spirit to experience, understand and live in the Power of the Kingdom of God.

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the ...

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Stir & Spur to Greater Life

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When you say, "How are you doing?" people usually give a quick (positive) answer, and the conversation moves on. If you slow things down and pursue a more thoughtful answer, you can usually expect a pause - as the person takes stock of their emotional condition and reviews their recent performance. Their status will often be expressed in terms of a treadmill week. And life goes on.

This need not be – there is more to life than a weekly treadmill. Jesus came that our lives may be abundant and full. (John 10:10) We must remember that we will be most fulfilled and alive when we are most spiritually alive. Paul reminds his younger friend Timothy to stir up (the fire of) the spiritual gifting within him. (2 Timothy 1:6) Sometimes we have to intentionally stir ourselves up to rekindle that fire.

What kind of things fire you up?
When was the last time you were on fire?
This might be a good time to put yourself in a setting or two that are likely to stir you up deep down, on t
...

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Move from Fullness to Abundance!

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How full is your life? Let me put it another way, how abundant is your life? The questions sound different, don’t they? Many of us have lives that are full, but not as many have lives that feel abundant.

In John 10:10, Jesus is recorded as saying “… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Other translations say, “Have it abundantly.” The point is that Jesus came into the world to free us from all that binds us, and to release abundant spiritual life in our souls and in our midst. We are tempted to think that the life Christ has for us is smaller than the lives we are trying to carve out for ourselves, but actually the opposite is true. He who created you wants to give you the best and fullest life your frame can handle.

In a related way, Paul exhorts us to be “Filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) The full and abundant life that Jesus provides is realized through the filling of the Holy Spirit. He is the “Animator” of your spiritual life from God....

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