by A lot of people are searching for how to be more spiritual.
There are a ton of ways to act spiritually, but I always go back to, “What’s the point of acting spiritually?”
Good feelings? Greater connection to the world around you? Acknowledgment that there is something great than us out there?
How To Be More Spiritual Every Day
Some religions require its leaders to wear long flowing robes and carry a scepter.
Some religions encourage the congregation to roll around on the floor talking gibberish.
You could listen to spiritual music and buy trinkets or rocks that have special meaning and set them around your house
The list for how to be more spiritual is long.
Kind of like the reasons to win the lottery.
What Are You REALLY Looking For?
A few years ago, I sat on my deck, leaned back on a board, and gazed into the sky. White and grey puffs of clouds passed over a deep blue backdrop. The clouds slowly rolled and changed shape as they floated by.
I began thinking of how nice it would be to win millions of dollars.
After a few moments of dreaming about possibilities a question popped into my mind.
Why do we REALLY want to win the lottery?
We may want to be rich and famous…to have everything we want…to share with others.
When I really thought about it, the reason for wanting that much money is the security that comes with it.
No mortgage.
No debt.
No worries about the next pay check, or the next meal.
Wouldn’t we feel more secure knowing that you don’t have to worry about bills or wonder where your next meal was going to come from?
Of course! Who wouldn’t?
Then, an inner voice floated to the top of my mind, “Are you really supposed to worry about that stuff? Aren’t you supposed to focus on Me?”
God asks us to have faith in Him and to trust Him to supply our needs, so begging for a lottery win to do that is counter-productive in God’s eyes.
Don’t get me wrong, having money isn’t a bad thing.
Neither is acting spiritually.
The Four Life Questions
There are four questions that I was introduced to a few years ago in my own search on how to be more spiritual:
- How did I come into being?
- What brings life meaning?
- How do I know right from wrong?
- Where am I headed after I die?
These questions should form the basis of any search in the spiritual realms, and the strongest conclusion we come to in terms of spiritual beliefs will answer all four of those questions.
For instance, a belief in evolution answers the first and last questions, but does not answer the middle two.
Evolution plus some religious beliefs might answer all four questions.
A belief in “The Universe” also does not answer the four questions above…except maybe the first…maybe the last, too, depending on what you mean when you reference “The Universe”.
The Christian faith answers all four questions:
- God created us.
- Our meaning comes from knowing Him.
- God gave us the knowledge of right and wrong.
- We’re headed for eternity after we die…either with God, or without him.
Rather than focus on rituals and fancy prayers, God takes a practical approach to being spiritual:
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.
1 Timothy 5:4
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
James 1:26
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
As you can see, lighting candles, wearing robes, or chanting does not impress God.
God wants a relationship with every one of us.
He wants us to take care of each other and do our best to not “be polluted by the world.”
If you are seeking a belief, but not sure which one is right, remember that acting spiritually, doing the things I mention above will impact your mind, soul, and body. It will feel good. However, I urge you to focus on the questions and make them the foundation for serious research. Take your time and dig into the beliefs you are considering.
…and try not to focus on the people who act out their beliefs, focus on the texts they follow, whether Christian, Hindu, Mormonism, or Islam.
Your eternal life is at stake.
