How to Grow Spiritually as a Christian: 9 Practical Habits to Strengthen Your Faith Every Day

For a long time, I thought growing spiritually meant two things: becoming stronger in my faith and understanding God more clearly. I pictured a straight line. The longer you follow God, the fewer questions you have.

My own experience hasn't worked that way. I believe in God, and my faith matters deeply to me. But there have been seasons when I felt disappointed with how life was unfolding, when I had questions I couldn't answer, and when I didn't understand why things weren't turning out the way I hoped. I wasn't looking for a reason to stop believing. I was trying to work out how to keep living by faith while I didn't understand what was happening.

That changed my idea of what it means to grow. If you're asking how to grow spiritually as a Christian, this article won't give you a formula that removes every doubt. It offers nine habits that help you keep seeking God honestly, in ordinary days as well as clear ones. They are small enough to start this week.

What does it mean to grow spiritually?

Spiritual growth is a slow change in how we know God and how we live. The apostle Peter ends his second letter with this encouragement: "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Notice the two parts, grace and knowledge. Growth isn't only collecting information about God, and it isn't only feeling close to him. It is knowing him better and letting that shape how we treat people, make decisions and handle disappointment.

Here are three things spiritual growth is not:

• It isn't having an answer for everything. Some of the most faithful people in the Bible asked hard questions.
• It isn't constant emotional intensity. Some seasons feel warm and others feel flat. Both can be real growth.
• It isn't a performance. You can't earn God's love by keeping a perfect streak.

Growth is more like tending a garden than flipping a switch. The habits below are the daily watering.

Habit 1: Be honest with God about where you are

This is the habit I would put first, because everything else depends on it. If you only bring God the polished version of yourself, you will struggle to stay close to him.

The Bible is full of honest prayers. Psalm 13 begins, "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1). The writer isn't being disrespectful. He is bringing his confusion to God instead of walking away from him.

In Mark 9, a father asks Jesus to help his son and says, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Faith and doubt sit side by side in that one sentence, and Jesus doesn't turn him away.

Try this: Once this week, write a prayer that says exactly what you feel. Do not edit it into something that sounds spiritual. For example: "God, I don't understand why this is taking so long, and I'm tired. Help me keep seeking you anyway."

Honesty doesn't mean you stop trusting God. It means you trust him with the truth.

Habit 2: Read the Bible in small, regular amounts

Many people start with a big plan, such as reading the whole Bible in a year. Then they miss a few days, feel behind and quietly stop.

Regular beats impressive. Ten minutes a day, repeated for months, will teach you more than a two-hour burst that you never repeat. The psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). A lamp doesn't light up the whole road. It shows you the next few steps, and that is often enough.

Try this:

• Choose a set time you can actually keep, such as before your phone takes over your morning or just before bed.
• If you're new to the Bible, begin with the Gospel of Mark. It is short and moves quickly.
• Read one small section, not three chapters. Slow reading teaches you more.
• If you miss a day, just continue the next day. There is nothing to make up.

If you want a plan, see our guide on how to start reading the Bible as a beginner (suggested link, article planned).

Habit 3: Learn to read a passage slowly and in context

Reading the Bible is one habit. Understanding it is another. A verse pulled out of its setting can end up saying something the author never meant.

You don't need a theology degree to read carefully. Try asking four simple questions of any passage:

1. Who wrote this, and who were they writing to?
2. What is happening around this verse? Read the paragraph before and after.
3. What does this teach about God?
4. What does it ask of me?

For instance, Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all this through him who gives me strength") is often used as a promise of success in any goal. In its context, Paul has just explained that he has learned to be content in plenty and in hunger. The verse is about strength to endure and be content, not a guarantee of winning. Reading in context often makes a verse deeper and more honest.

Try this: Choose one short passage and write down your answers to the four questions. Five minutes is enough. If something is confusing, circle it and ask a trusted pastor or mature Christian friend later. Not understanding every passage is normal.

Habit 4: Pray in simple, everyday ways

Many people feel they are bad at prayer because they don't know what to say. But prayer is talking with God, not delivering a speech.

Paul tells the church to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That doesn't mean being on your knees all day. It means keeping the conversation open, including on the bus, in the kitchen or before a hard meeting. In Philippians 4:6-7, he encourages bringing our worries to God with thanksgiving and says that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds. It doesn't say the problem will vanish, but that peace can come even while we wait.

Try this: Use a simple pattern when you don't know what to say:

• Thank: Name two or three things you're grateful for today.
• Tell: Say honestly what's on your mind, including worries and questions.
• Ask: Pray for yourself and for one other person.
• Listen: Sit quietly for a minute before you finish.

Also try short prayers during the day, like "Lord, help me be patient with this person." Short counts.

Habit 5: Ask God for wisdom, then act on what you know

A lot of us want clarity about the next step. I know I have. I wanted to understand what I was supposed to learn, what to do next, and why certain things were taking so long.

James offers a direct invitation: "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (James 1:5). Two things stand out. God is described as generous, and he doesn't scold us for asking.

At the same time, wisdom is not always a dramatic answer. Often it shows up as better judgment, a good piece of advice from someone older, or a clearer sense of the next small step. Asking for wisdom also doesn't replace thinking. It works alongside prayer, research, advice and planning.

Try this: When you face a decision, write three things: what you know for sure, what you don't know, and the one step you can take today. Pray over that list. Then take the step, even if the whole path isn't visible.

For more on this, see our upcoming article on how to make difficult decisions as a Christian (suggested link, article planned).

Habit 6: Practice obedience in small things

James also says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). Spiritual growth is not only about what we learn but about what we do with it.

Obedience sounds heavy, but in daily life it is often small:

• Returning a call you've been avoiding because you need to apologize.
• Telling the truth when a small lie would be easier.
• Giving a little, even when money is tight.
• Choosing not to join a conversation that tears someone down.

Try this: After you read or pray, ask, "What is one thing I can do today because of this?" Keep it small enough to finish. Doing one small thing consistently builds trust in God more reliably than good intentions.

Obedience is also not about earning love. We follow because we are already loved, not to become loved.

Habit 7: Stay connected to other believers

It's easy to treat faith as a private matter, especially when you're tired or discouraged. But the Bible assumes we grow together. Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" and not to give up meeting together. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Community does several things for us. It reminds us we aren't the only ones with questions. It gives us people to pray with. It also corrects us gently when we're drifting.

Community doesn't have to be perfect. Imagine a young man who feels embarrassed about his doubts and stops attending his small group. Months later, he mentions the doubts to one friend, and the friend says, "I've felt the same way." This is an imagined example, but it is a common one. Often the thing we hide is the thing others share.

Try this:

• Join or start a small group, even with just two or three people.
• Pick one trusted person and tell them where you really are in your faith.
• If you've been hurt by a church before, move slowly and look for a healthier setting instead of abandoning community altogether.

Habit 8: Make room for quiet and rest

We live in a loud world. Notifications, work, study and family responsibilities can leave little space to notice God at all.

Luke 5:16 says of Jesus, "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." If Jesus made space to be quiet, we need it too.

You don't need a retreat. You need a few minutes of intentional quiet.

Try this:

• Take a ten-minute walk without your phone and pray as you go.
• Turn off notifications for a short time each day.
• Keep one day, or part of a day, as lighter and more restful, if your circumstances allow it.

Rest is not laziness. It is a way of admitting that we are not in charge of everything, which is a very practical form of trust.

Habit 9: Be patient with the process and measure growth wisely

This habit is the one I'm still learning. I have found that spiritual growth isn't about having an explanation for everything. Sometimes it's about learning to seek God honestly while admitting that you don't have all the answers.

When you're waiting or disappointed, it is easy to conclude you aren't growing. But growth often looks different from what we expect. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit as "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Those are qualities of character, and they usually develop quietly over time.

So instead of asking, "Do I feel close to God today?" try these questions:

• Am I more honest than I was a year ago?
• Am I a little more patient or forgiving?
• Do I turn to God sooner when I'm struggling?
• Am I still seeking him, even when I don't understand?

If the answer to even one of these is yes, something is growing.

A gentle note: If your doubts or discouragement feel heavy, constant or hopeless, please talk with a pastor, a counselor or a doctor. Seeking support is wise, and it isn't a sign of weak faith.

Frequently asked questions

How can I grow spiritually if I feel stuck?

Start smaller than you think you should. Choose one habit, such as reading one short passage a day or praying one honest prayer, and keep it for two weeks. Being stuck is common, and it often passes more through steady small steps than through big efforts. Telling a trusted person also helps.

How long does it take to grow in faith?

There is no fixed timeline. Spiritual growth is a lifelong process, and it doesn't move at the same speed in every season. Looking at changes in character over years, instead of feelings over days, usually gives a more accurate picture.

Is it okay to have doubts as a Christian?

Yes, many people in the Bible expressed doubts and questions, and God didn't turn them away. What matters is what we do with our doubts. Bringing them to God and to wise, trusted people is healthier than hiding them or letting them silently push us away.

Where to begin

You don't need to adopt all nine habits at once. Pick one this week:

• If you feel distant from God, start with Habit 1 and pray honestly.
• If you feel lost in the Bible, start with Habits 2 and 3.
• If you feel alone, start with Habit 7 and tell one person where you are.

Spiritual growth rarely looks dramatic. Mostly it looks like returning to God again and again, including on the days when nothing is clear. That kind of steady, honest seeking is the growth.

Your turn: Which habit will you try this week? Share it in the comments, or send me a question you'd like answered in a future article.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).