Wallace SC&W
Rev. Stephen C. Wallace
SPIRITUAL MATURING BY OPENING UP
Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
Spiritual Maturity is not all about what we can achieve and do.
It is not just about the actions we take. It is also about how
much we allow Christ to dwell in us. We are told that the Spirit
offers us fruit that will bless us and others. Yet we often close
ourselves off from these blessings. How open are you to receiving
these gifts from the Holy Spirit?
Joy:
1. What % of your life are you: ___ happy, ___ neutral, ___ sad?
2. I struggle the most to be full of joy when? (check all that apply)
___ Good things aren’t happening
___ I am not being treated right
___ I am not physically healthy
___ I am in physical, emotional, psychological pain
___ I just don’t feel like I have anything to be grateful about
___ I have job struggles
___ I have family struggles
___ Other ______________________________________
3. How dependant is your joy on your circumstances?
___ Totally
___ Not at all
___ Not on good days
___ 50/50
___ Depends on the current circumstances
4. What joy ‘igniters’ do you tap into or see?
___ Scriptures about hope and blessings
___ Observing the greatness of Creation
___ Counting God’s kindnesses
___ Helping others
___ Worship
___ Socializing or fellowshipping experiences
___ Humor/Comedy
___ Other: _______________________________________
5. How do you tap into these ‘joy bringers’? ____________________
6, How often do you tap into joy ‘igniters’? Why or why not do you
tap into these? ________________________________________
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The Next Step: How to Grow in your Spiritual Maturity
(specific suggestion to questions in the inventory are labeled Q +
the number of the question)
Joy:
Q.1 -For a week keep a journal listing (from 1-10) how joy/joyless you
are at various times of the day, in different situations, and with various people.
Q.2/3 -Reflect upon and identify common things in the high joy times and
in the low joy times. What leads to each of these high or low experiences?
Q.4 -Study Joy in Scripture and in the world. Also think about the qualities
of God that we have to celebrate: Always loving, kind, caring, willing to
step into bad situations to help bring good for us, compassionate, forgiving, etc.
Word study of contentment? (e.g. Philippians 4: 4, 11-13)
Study how we overcome circumstance based joy?
Identify the things that “put you in a great mood” consistently. What about
them accomplish this? How much/regular a part of your life are they?
Q.5 –Make a list of things that bring joy and keep this list around (you
might categorize them according to what brings big joy, medium delight,
quick chuckles and how much effort/time/cost is needed to obtain the joy).
In thinking of what brings joy think of experiences but also of feelings or
thoughts that bring joy. Then focus on how you can foster these feelings
or thoughts. For example, if gratitude is a joy bringer then list as many
things that you have to celebrate as you can. Maybe you can give something
to another or perform a service if that is what brings you joy. Or if the feeling
of security brings joy then list all of the ways that God is acting to protect
you and to keep you safe.
You might write out goals for having different joy experiences. Some
examples and resources are: set aside 3 hours every two weeks to watch
an appropriate comedy, read the comics once a week, read a book of humor
every month (e.g. The Joyful Noiseletter at http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/)
every month memorize a Scripture that brings you joy, etc. Use the journal
at least three time a week as a resource and reminder to seek out joy.
Gather a list of the resources needed for the joy bringers so that you can
use them. Ask for God’s filling of Joy.
Q.6 – Schedule a regular ‘filling’ of a ‘joy igniter’ so that you don’t run dry.
Plan one of your joy igniters every day for the next 10 days.
