From drifting to becoming

In the last article, we talked about spiritual formation: the gradual shaping of your inner person through your intentional and unintentional practices.

But once we realize we are always being shaped, the next question becomes: are we drifting, or are we becoming?

As Christians, we know “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). But walking in that freedom requires intention. We have to pay attention to what is shaping us — and invite God to show us where we have been unaware, passive, or even rebellious.

For me, one of the clearest places I see this is in what I listen to, watch, and scroll through.

Endless scrolling is one of my biggest struggles. Sometimes it happens when I’m avoiding something hard. Sometimes it happens in the small pockets of time I don’t know what to do with. And sometimes it happens purely out of habit — I went to check my bank balance, and somehow I’m suddenly watching political rants or furniture refinishing videos.

But even in those little moments, something is being formed in me.

I may be practicing avoidance instead of bringing my stress to God. I may be allowing other people’s opinions, fears, desires, or outrage to shape the way I think. I may be training my heart to reach for distraction instead of peace.

That is the fruit of unintentional spiritual formation. Not always dramatic. Not always obvious. But over time, it shapes our thoughts, words, actions, desires, and habits.

This is why being intentional matters.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Being intentional about spiritual formation is part of guarding your heart.

So where do we begin?

Christian spiritual formation’s goal is simple: to be shaped more and more into the likeness of Jesus.

This is not something we accomplish by sheer effort. It is something God does in us as we surrender to Him.

Still, there are foundational practices that help position our hearts toward Christ, for that postive spiritual formation to take root. This will become a series, and we’ll cover each one in more detail. But for now, here are four bedrock practices that help shape us toward God:

Study your Bible Not just reading, but learning to understand who God is, what He says is true, and how His Word speaks into your actual life.

Pray Talk with God. Listen to Him. Bring Him your thoughts, fears, desires, questions, and daily life.

Give How we spend our money reveals something about our hearts. Giving helps loosen our grip on comfort, control, and self-sufficiency.

Serve Serving reminds us that our lives are not meant to be centered only on ourselves. We are called to love, encourage, and build up the body of Christ.

At the core of every one of these practices is the same surrender:

I am not God. He is.

As John the Baptist said, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30).

Less of me. More of Him.