10 Spiritual Reflection Questions for Growth and Renewal
Every three months, I set aside time to reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going. I use this time to rewrite my goals and ask God to give me a vision for the upcoming season. Today, I’m sharing the spiritual reflection questions I use during these times.
Space for Asking Spiritual Reflection Questions
Four times each year—at set dates—I take time to step back and reflect on life.
I’ve been doing this since I was 17. As a teenager, these seasonal dates reflected the shift from one athletic season to the next.
After graduating from high school, I used this time to reflect on my college goals. Later, when I became a teacher, I used these dates to reflect on the school year.
Now, as a mother, writer, and mentor, I still step back to reflect on life every few months.
I take time to listen to my longings and name my regrets. I talk to God about what went well and what was hard. It’s also a space for both repentance and renewal.
10 Spiritual Reflection Questions
If this sounds like space you could use, here are some questions for reflection:
1. What went well over the past three months? What felt like a success?
I take time to ask God to show me what he wants me to learn from these experiences. I thank God for his blessings and ask for his vision moving forward.
Paradoxically, success and failure often coexist. Inevitably, considering what went well also leads me to ask the following question:
2. What was hard? What felt like a failure?
These questions aren’t easy, but they lead to growth. I ask God to show me what he wants me to learn from these situations.
Here’s an example:
Last year, I felt like I’d failed God as I mentored someone God had placed in my sphere of influence.
As I reflected on the situation, God showed me that what felt like failure was actually growth. I didn’t see the fruit of my efforts, but I did learn more about speaking the truth in love.
God also showed me where my desire to be in control impacted my ability to love freely. I grew tremendously by taking the time to sit with the discomfort of my perceived failure.
This leads to the next question:
3. What did I learn?
Reflection is important for growth.
Years ago, during my student teaching experience, I was required to reflect on every lesson I taught. At first, this felt like a waste of time. Eventually, I learned that growth takes place when we step back to reflect.
Ask God to show you what he wants you to know about the past few months. You might be surprised by the thoughts that come to mind.
Remember, God will never shame you or make you feel condemned. He will gently correct you, in love.
4. What does God want to heal?
Life is hard.
We all get wounded by the world.
Stepping back to create space for God to heal our emotional wounds is important.
Here are a few wounds God has healed during my past times of reflection:
God has healed my heart from hurtful words spoken by others; he has healed me and delivered me from guilt and shame; he has reframed my failures as growth points; he has prompted me to forgive others; he has led me to seek forgiveness from others; he has pulled out bitter roots.
God wants to heal you, too.
Ask him to show you what he wants to heal within you. Again, you might be surprised to find wounds you haven’t even acknowledged.
Life is hard. We all get wounded by the world. Stepping back to create space for God to heal our emotional wounds is important. #healing #God Share on X5. What burden do I need to release?
Are you carrying any heavy burdens?
Maybe God wants you to let go of the desire to control a difficult situation. Perhaps he is leading you to search your heart for unconfessed sin. He might be showing you a layer of grief he wants to lift or inviting you to trust him with a loved one.
Talk to him about your burdens and follow wherever you sense he is leading.
Let’s explore some spiritual reflection questions to help us talk to God about the future.
Spiritual Reflection Questions for Looking Ahead
6. What is God’s vision for the next three months?
Take the time to ask God where he is leading you in the upcoming months. What commitments already exist for you in the next season? Talk to God about what he wants you to know as he prepares you for these commitments.
What would it look like to love God well and love others well as you fulfill these commitments?
Do you need to make any gentle shifts in your routines or rhythms as you step forward?
7. What am I dreading?
The sense of dread can be a red flag calling for attention.
I tend to shove dread aside as I push forward toward my goals; however, there is a time to be honest about a sense of dread when it comes to the future.
At times, this dread is nothing more than a low level of anxiety surrounding the uncertainty of the future. At other times, it can feel all-encompassing.
Talk to God about any dread you are feeling.
Is God calling you to change your commitments or make adjustments to your schedule? Or is he asking you to step into the assignment in front of you (perhaps with a different attitude)?
Ask him to align your heart with his. You might need to tell dread that there is no room for it at your table.
8. What feels life-giving right now?
It’s also important to consider what feels life-giving to you. What habits or activities were restorative in your previous season? Do you have room for more of these activities in the next season?
Maybe you haven’t made enough space for life-giving activities. In what ways do you need to change your rhythms to make room for replenishment?
You might feel inclined to change the way you’ve been exercising or eating, make more time for relaxation, or carve out time for fun with friends. Follow wherever the Lord seems to be leading.
9. What has God been showing me or speaking to my heart?
Do you have a sense of what God has been showing you or speaking to your heart?
If so, reflect on this and talk to him about it. It might help to write the impressions you’ve been receiving in a journal.
If you haven’t had a sense of God’s voice or direction, ask him to show you what he wants you to know.
I like to ask God what’s on his heart.
The thoughts that come to mind in response are often very different than what’s been on my heart.
10. What does God want to show me about my relationship with him?
Last, talk to God about your relationship with him. How are things going? Do you feel connected to him, bored, tired, distracted, or something else?
Talk to God about this.
Ask him to show you what he wants you to know.
What would it look like to seek him in restorative ways? Is he calling you to change the way you are responding to his pursuit in any way?
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I pray these spiritual reflection questions have helped you connect with God and reflect on your life. I also have a gift for you. God wants to meet with you for moments of reflection and connection every day. My free online devotional, Mornings With Jesus, can be your guide.
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