All too often these days I get the impression, from within the body of Christ, that “being spiritual” isn’t a good thing. An example of this occurring could be during a group Bible study or meeting, etc., a question is asked and before anyone can even think about an answer, the one asking says something like the following: “And don’t get all spiritual.” Or, “I don’t want the spiritual answer either.”

More often than not comments like the above cause me to think, “Huh? What’s with that? How can that be? And when did being spiritual get a bad rap?” I personally have no idea what is meant or even why it’s being said and, truthfully speaking, I don’t even care.

What I do care very much about is redeeming what “being spiritual” means according to God’s Living Word, the B.I.B.L.E.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… Galatians 5:22

In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:7

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51:6

I submit to you that being spiritual is “being godly or possessing godliness. A fine working definition of spirituality is, knowing God so I can please God. That is what godliness (spirituality) is all about…Spirituality is forever tied to knowing God and doing God’s will…Spiritual things are those things that are in harmony with God’s character…The spiritual person behaves and acts like God behaves and acts. ”

Dear sisters, one of the greatest gifts we have as believers is the Spirit of Christ Jesus alive and well in us! We who are Christ-followers get to be spiritual: fully active and living as unto the LORD. It’s all about doing life according to the counsel of the spirit within us and not according to the flesh: our mind, will and emotions.

We who are called by His name are called to be led by the Spirit. It is in this that we have the power and the will to do life on planet earth. How else is the world to know and believe God is good apart from the reflection of His character that is clearly seen and observed when they see His Spirit in us who are spiritual? We get to choose. Selah…

Stephanie Dale Paul

Stephanie serves as part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Director of Women of Character. She has been married for over 30 years to Sesky Paul who is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy. They have two grown children.
Her single focus in ministry at Keswick is to image Christ in grace and truth to wounded and hurting women, encouraging them to make Jesus the truest Lover of their soul and the One in whom all hope lies.