Introduction to Christian Personal Development
Website DIVISIONS (Over 600 articles to help you to grow in every facet of your life)
Written by Jimmie Burroughs 
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Christian personal development emphasizes the spiritual side of man. Science acknowledges the spiritual, though it does not make a connection with a higher Deity. Society, generally, also recognizes the spiritual but has different applications as how to make a connection. It is an established fact that spirituality is frequently recognized as an inner-force to be dealt with and is thought to have a direct influence on the quality of life. Christian personal development is about a Divine connection with God. Spirituality is more than making contact with your inner self; it is connecting with God.
The Divine definition of spirituality, while welcoming some of the same qualities as secular humanism, (love, compassion, patience, toleration, compassion, contentment, responsibility, harmony, and a concern for others), goes further and is based on the Bible doctrine of the fall of man. When Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, in Genesis 3:6, sin entered the world and death resulted; death not only included physical death but also spiritual death. Death is a separation. Physical death is a separation of the spirit and soul from the body while spiritual death is a separation of man’s spirit from God. To realize the full advantages of your spiritual potential and God’s guarantees of the Bible for eternal life, joy, peace, contentment and purpose in this life, it’s necessary to have a new connection with Our Lord God which results in having him living within your spirit.
God through his power then directs all of life through sanctification, which is setting man aside from the general activities of sin and the flesh and repositioning him in the actions of the Divine nature of God, which is Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, temperance and meekness (Galatians 5:16-22). It no longer becomes an act of reforming our strategies, but it is allowing God to impress his methods in us. This is God working in an individual, not self-help as taught by Tony Robins, the AAA and most personal growth websites. It is God conforming us to His own image.
I definitely do not mean to belittle the sterling work that Tony Robbins, the AAA and secular personal development does. It is a good thing that folks can become better human beings thru self-help. What I am saying is that Divine individual expansion places the stress on God and his work of alteration instead of our self-effort, which naturally is far better than nothing is at all, but misses the mark of what God can do.
The first responsibility of any person that desires to make contact with their spirituality from a Divine perspective is learning how to have a relationship with God.
Conclusion:
The very best personal development is the kind God does in a person. It is more than a personality overhaul; it results in a new person. However, no effort put into your improvement is wasted, whether it is an earthly approach or a Divine approach. The difference it makes in the quality of life cannot be denied and indeed will decide the quantity of success, purpose and happiness in life.
About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who have been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. He is a dedicated believer in Jesus Christ and considers helping others his calling in life. His website contains over 600 articles on preparing yourself for success through personal development and the things that accompany personal development.
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