Do you live life more like a passive robot or an active participant?

If we’re not careful, we can easily become so busy living life, that we have no idea if we’re actually engaged in eternally worthwhile pursuits. Though we may have even started our doing the right things, in the bustle of life we can unintentionally veer off course. 

To avoid misdirection, we must continually examine our activities in light of God’s Word. Only once we identify where we are and where we’re going can we take the right steps to reach our destination. 

Today, we’ll outline five keys to spiritual reflection. 

1. How is My Walk with God? 

Like an ocean’s tide, life can incessantly pull us farther away from where we need to be. Ask yourself these questions:

• Have I drifted?
• Is my time in His Word a routine or a joy?
• Do I love God more than I did yesterday, last week, last month, or last year?
• Am I more obedient?

Periodically, over the course of my life, I’ve found myself living robotic Christianity, simply opening my Bible, but lacking the richness of former days. In those times, I had to seek God for spiritual renewal. 

2. How are My Personal Habits and Disciplines?

As our Father, God desires that our lives are conformed “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). The joy of the Christian life is seeking to become like Him in every facet of life. “Be ye therefore perfect [complete], even as your Father which is in Heaven in perfect [or complete] (Matthew 5:48). 

Hebrews 12:1-2 describes “weights” and “besetting sins,” two categories that hinder us from fully running the race. Sins are often easy to recognize, while weights can be more difficult to detect. A weight can be any good thing that takes the place of the best thing.

Ask yourself: “Do my daily habits and disciplines make me more like Christ?” As you evaluate, consider life’s many domains: relationships, health, finances, work, family, etc.,

• Am I stewarding my body as the temple of the Holy Ghost? (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
• How obedient am I to God and authorities?
• Am I growing in wisdom?

3. How is My Work?

For some, work is a drag. We easily forget that although our work has been cursed (Genesis 3), work itself is not part of the curse, for Adam worked before the Fall. Additionally, God designed work as one of the chief ways in which we glorify Him and reflect His image as creative beings.

Do I treat coworkers and authorities with Christian respect and kindness? Do I strive for excellence in every pursuit? Do I exhibit joy in all of my work? (Colossians 3:23-24). 

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean [lowly, obscure] men.”

4. How is My Family?

Against the tide of cultural norms, we must view family with a long-term perspective. At the most basic level, God has given each of us responsibilities in the home, whether as a husband, wife, parent, child, or sibling. Family is not a little add-on for life, it is the engine of dominion, discipleship, evangelism, and stewardship.

Here are a few questions:

• For spouses: How well do I live out Ephesians 5?
• For parents: How well do I know the heart of my child?
• For children: Do I consistently honor and obey my parents?
• For siblings: Do I set a Christian example for my siblings?

5. How are My Relationships and Witness?

Reflection opens our eyes to the needs of others and to our Biblical responsibility towards those around us. We speak through our words, but more powerfully, through our actions.

• Is my life worth imitating? (I Timothy 4:12)
• When’s the last time I shared the gospel with someone?
• Do I have a Paul (a mentor), a Barnabas (an encourager), and a Timothy (a mentee) in my life?

The Power of Intentionality

We may claim to believe the Bible, but our actions demonstrate how sincere that belief really is. As we search the scriptures, we must constantly evaluate our lives in light of its transcendent truth. In a world of stated relativity, God, not self, is the standard. Once we know where we are, we must take action. For this is what spirit-led living is all about (Romans 8:1-17).

What would happen if just a handful of Christians consistently evaluated their lives by God’s Word, and then faithfully sought to live it out? By God’s grace, the world would be a different place.

Question: Why is spiritual reflection vital for every Christian?