3 Ways to Improve Your Spiritual Life

As a Christian athlete, I quickly understood the importance of developing a spiritual life. Growing up, I attended church, learned Bible stories, and memorized verses, but for a long time, it felt like just another Sunday routine. I soon realized that my life was more than the strength I used; there was a higher power, God, who controlled much of what happened in this world and was the driving force behind many events in my life. Unfortunately, like many others, I found myself crying out to God during my worst times. Here are some practices that helped me draw closer to God and discover strengths I never knew I had:

Communication

Guys, we’ve heard this so many times from our partners: “We need to communicate better.” The same applies to our relationship with God. To develop and cultivate a stronger relationship with your partner, you talk a lot, express yourselves, share vulnerable experiences, and discuss daily activities. It’s the same with God; He just wants to hear from you and talk with you through prayer.

Prayer is often stigmatized as something that must be done in a sacred place at certain times, which can be true, but communication with God can happen anywhere— in the car, walking down the street, even using the bathroom. You get the point. I found myself growing stronger by simply talking with Him anywhere I was, like I was talking with my best friend. Nothing formal, just, “Hey God, what’s up? I’m kind of going through it today,” or “Hey, I really get distracted when doing work; can you help me out?” Simple conversations like these are all He wants His children to do.

Reflection

We live in a world with endless distractions: Instagram, Netflix, TikTok, and hit TV shows. We’ve been given so many stimuli that either think for us or constantly influence our thoughts, which isn’t always positive. It’s important to hear your own thoughts, not someone else’s. One thing we often neglect is reflecting on ourselves, our lives, or our days. We need to see where we went wrong, where we can improve, and acknowledge our accomplishments.

Reflection is vital. It helps us combat mental battles like depression and anxiety by confronting what’s going on in our minds. I actively take time throughout the day to decompress before sleep, without any noise, and think about my day. I center myself, consider how I could correct myself, add to what’s good, and contemplate other courses of action. This practice has not only helped me understand what God is pushing me towards in life but has also allowed me to connect with my spirit and improve myself as a whole.

Reading His Word

Imagine you have five kids you love dearly. Some disobey and never listen, while one angel listens to every word, obeys your instructions, and admires what you do for them. Although you love all your kids, you’ll likely favor the one who listens and obeys. Reading God’s Word is crucial because it gives us the instructions He wants us to follow to succeed in life. It’s a manual on how to live and succeed, guiding us on where to step, stop, talk, jump, and slow down.

Reading His Word helps us understand what He wants us to do, listen to Him, and gain His favor. We’ve all been that rebellious child at times, not listening to instructions, rebelling, or falling into bad situations. The best way to be the good child is by reading His instructions so we understand what He wants us to do at each step of our lives. This doesn’t mean we won’t face hardships, but we’ll feel safe and hopeful during them because we know our Father, who loves us, always has our back.