If you want to grow spiritually, start with honest self-examination. One of the greatest obstacles to Christian growth isn’t a lack of biblical knowledge. It’s our unwillingness to recognize where we need to change.
We can attend church, listen to sermons, read Scripture, and participate in Christian activities without allowing what we’re learning to transform the way we live.
Knowing Scripture is important, but becoming more Christlike requires something more. We must allow God’s Word to move beyond our heads and into our hearts.
There is a simple truth worth remembering: We cannot change what we refuse to recognize.
Information is cheap. Transformation is priceless.
Let’s look at why honest self-examination matters, what prevents us from doing it, and five practical steps you can begin putting into practice today.
1. Spiritual Growth Begins With Honest Self-Examination
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to recognize what needs to change in someone else’s life and how difficult it can be to recognize what needs to change in your own?
It’s human nature to see the shortcomings of others while overlooking our own.
Yet genuine spiritual growth requires us to turn that attention inward.
We must become willing to examine how well we’re applying what we already know. It’s not simply about how much Scripture we can quote or how many sermons we’ve heard. It’s about whether God’s Word is changing our attitudes, decisions, relationships, and everyday behavior.
James 1:22 (NKJV) reminds us:
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Knowing what God says is not the same as living it.
If we want to become the people God wants us to be, we must honestly recognize where our lives are not yet reflecting what we’re learning.
Transformation begins with recognition.
2. Why Christians Sometimes Avoid Self-Examination
If self-examination is so important to spiritual growth, why do we avoid it?
There are three common reasons.
It Challenges Our Self-Image
Most of us have a picture of who we believe we are. We may see ourselves as patient, generous, forgiving, or faithful.
But honest self-examination can reveal areas where our behavior doesn’t match that picture.
Perhaps we’re more impatient than we realize. Maybe we struggle with pride, harbor resentment, or repeatedly make decisions that don’t reflect our values.
Recognizing these things can be uncomfortable.
It’s often easier to ignore them than to confront them. But growth requires us to be honest about the difference between who we think we are and how we’re actually living.
We Confuse Conviction With Condemnation
Another reason people avoid self-examination is that they associate recognizing personal shortcomings with guilt, shame, or inadequacy.
But there is an important distinction between conviction and condemnation.
Condemnation leaves us feeling defeated and without hope. Conviction brings something to light so that we can respond with correction, repentance, healing, and growth.
Romans 8:1 (NKJV) tells us:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit works in our lives to reveal areas that need attention. This isn’t about making us feel worthless. It’s about helping us recognize where change is needed so we can grow in our relationship with God.
Consider the account of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:10–11. Jesus did not condemn her, but He also told her to go and sin no more.
Grace doesn’t permit us to ignore what needs to change. It allows us to move forward differently.
We Don’t Want to Confront What We Might Discover
Sometimes the problem isn’t that we don’t recognize something is wrong. The problem is that we don’t want to deal with it.
We may already know there’s an attitude, behavior, habit, or unresolved issue that needs attention.
But confronting it means accepting responsibility and taking action.
Self-examination requires more than identifying a problem. It requires a willingness to respond.
That response may involve asking for forgiveness, extending forgiveness to someone else, changing a habit, making a difficult decision, or simply acknowledging that we’ve been wrong.
Whatever it is, spiritual growth requires honesty and a willingness to act.
3. Five Practical Steps to Grow Spiritually
Self-examination isn’t about finding everything wrong with yourself. It’s about becoming honest enough to recognize what God wants to work on in your life.
Here are five practical habits you can begin developing today.
Step 1: Read Scripture Daily
Make reading God’s Word a consistent part of your daily routine.
Don’t approach Scripture simply as something to complete or another item to check off your list. Read with an open heart and a willingness to learn.
Pay attention to what Scripture reveals about God’s character, His expectations, and the way He wants you to live.
Step 2: Pray About What You Read
Don’t stop at reading. Take time to pray about what you’ve learned.
Ask God to help you understand the passage’s meaning and recognize how it applies to your circumstances.
Move beyond simply asking for information. Ask for wisdom to put what you’re learning into practice.
Step 3: Ask the Holy Spirit to Reveal What Needs to Change
Be willing to ask some honest questions.
Are my attitudes reflecting Christ? Am I treating others with patience and kindness? Are my decisions consistent with what I say I believe?
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize the areas of your life that need attention.
Remember, you cannot change what you’re unwilling to recognize.
Step 4: Identify the Action You Need to Take
Once you recognize an area that needs improvement, determine what action is necessary.
Perhaps you need to change an attitude, correct a behavior, apologize to someone, forgive someone, or make a different decision.
Don’t allow self-examination to become an exercise in simply identifying shortcomings.
Recognition should lead to action.
Step 5: Ask God for the Strength to Follow Through
Recognizing what needs to change doesn’t mean making the change will be easy.
Old habits, attitudes, and behaviors can be difficult to overcome.
Ask God for the courage, strength, wisdom, and perseverance to follow through on what He is showing you.
Then take the next step.
Spiritual growth is not a one-time event. It’s a lifelong process of learning, recognizing, responding, and becoming more Christlike.
4. Lasting Spiritual Transformation Requires Consistency
These five habits may seem simple, but consistently applying them can make a meaningful difference in your spiritual growth.
Read Scripture. Pray about what you read. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to change. Identify the action you need to take. Ask God for the strength to follow through.
Do this day after day with an honest and willing heart.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress.
You cannot become who God wants you to be while refusing to examine who you are today honestly.
Remember, spiritual growth isn’t measured simply by how much biblical knowledge you acquire. It’s reflected in how that knowledge changes the way you think, live, make decisions, and treat others.
Information is cheap. Transformation is priceless.
And transformation begins when you’re willing to recognize what needs to change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Growth
How can I grow spiritually as a Christian?
You can grow spiritually by consistently reading Scripture, praying, examining your attitudes and behaviors, and applying biblical wisdom to everyday decisions. Spiritual growth requires more than gaining knowledge. It requires allowing God’s Word to transform how you live.
Why is self-examination important for spiritual growth?
Self-examination helps you recognize attitudes, habits, and behaviors that may be preventing you from becoming more Christlike. You cannot address an issue you refuse to acknowledge. Honest reflection allows you to recognize where change is needed and take meaningful steps toward growth.
What does the Bible say about examining yourself?
The Bible encourages believers to examine their lives and spiritual condition. Second Corinthians 13:5 calls believers to examine themselves and test themselves. This encourages honest reflection about our faith and the way we are living.
What is the difference between conviction and condemnation?
Condemnation brings guilt and a sense of hopelessness, while conviction reveals an area that needs correction and encourages a response. For Christians, Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus.
How do I become more Christlike every day?
Becoming more Christlike involves consistently learning from Scripture, depending on the Holy Spirit, examining your life, and putting biblical principles into practice. It’s a lifelong journey of spiritual growth, obedience, and transformation.
Continue Your Growth Journey
Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. It requires a willingness to learn, recognize where change is needed, and take action.
If you’re looking for more practical, Bible-based wisdom to strengthen your faith, develop your character, make wiser decisions, and become a better leader, I invite you to explore my books.
Visit Ric Bender Books to discover resources designed to help you grow in character, strengthen your faith, and become the person God is calling you to be.
Explore the books at https://www.ricbender.com/books/
Watch the Video
Prefer to watch rather than read? In this video, I explain why honest self-examination is essential to spiritual growth and share five practical steps you can begin applying today.