Spiritual responsiveness describes how we choose to respond to the work of God in our lives. It involves actively listening and then taking action according to what we are hearing. God is present and at work in the world, drawing us closer to him. How we decide to respond is up to us. Scripture advises us on this count:
- “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:25
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6
- “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
As God draws near to us through his scriptures, through other people, through the Holy Spirit, what will we do? Will we run and hide, as Adam and Eve did in the garden? Will we step forward in faith even when we don’t know what’s next, as Abraham did? How will we open ourselves to hearing God’s voice and discerning what he is calling us to do?
The five essential expressions of spiritual responsiveness are:
- Receiving guidance and empowerment from the Holy Spirit
- Discerning opportunities for involvement in God’s work
- Checking what you’re hearing with scripture and your faith community
- Acting in faith through loving obedience
- Listening for God’s calling in your life
You can purchase a discipleship guide that takes you into more depth in each of these areas here.
This blog entry is a part of a series on the 8 dimensions of discipleship. You can purchase the entire set here.
Where are you currently in your discipleship journey? Use our assessment tool to learn more: http://discipleassessment.com/.