Hindrances To Spiritual Growth Series

Third, ask lots of questions.

Spend some time with people who know more than you do and ask them questions about different wonders of this world in which we live. Let them share their wonder.

We cannot contemplate the greatness of God and the world He has made without being touched with wonder.

Hindrance #4: Lack of Accountability

Sometimes the problem is that we lack the kind of accountability to others which will keep us on track in our spiritual pilgrimage.

What do I mean by accountability?

This means to open our lives to one or a few carefully selected, trusted, loyal confidants who will speak the truth, and give them the right to examine, question, and appraise our lives.

Why is this important?

Every person’s perspective is partial and limited and we need to balance our limited perspective with the broader perspective from another person.

Proverbs 13:10 puts it like this: "Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom."

Maybe this is a problem for some of you. You have so isolated yourself from other Christians that you are accountable to no one but yourself. As a result, you have allowed yourself to fall into some habits which are keeping you from moving forward in your Christian life.

What is the solution?

First, find a prayer partner and begin to develop a relationship with that person.

Second, find a group of people with whom you can meet on a regular basis to share your struggles and your dreams as Christians.

Third, establish some specific goals and regularly evaluate your life against those goals.

Hindrance #5: Lack of Commitment

Sometimes the problem is a lack of commitment. All of the other hindrances are, in a way, simply a manifestation of this final hindrance: a lack of commitment to Christ. We are living in a day when people almost instinctively draw back from the idea of commitment.

Why are we so hesitant to commit ourselves?

Some refrain from commitments because they fear it will rob them of their freedom. Truthfully, freedom comes only through commitment. The uncommitted person is not free but rather is bound by the desires and demands of the moment.

Some refrain from commitments because they fear they will not be able to follow through on them. They’ve made other commitments ... to a parent, or to a spouse ... and they have failed those commitments. As a result, they don’t want to make an empty commitment to God.

A Garfield cartoon recently captured this idea. Garfield says, "One of my pet peeves is people who never finish what they start." He grins a knowing smile and says, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last frame shows him under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, ’Never start anything.’"

Maybe this is a problem with some of you.

You don’t want to confine your life with a commitment you know you are not going to fulfill, so you just never make the commitment to spiritual growth.

What is the solution?

First, remember the grace and mercy of God.

Second, write down some specific commitments you need to make.

Third, put a time table on these commitments.

Spiritual growth is achieved as we remove these hindrances from our lives.