I recently had the opportunity to attend my first Lifeway Going Beyond event on August 24, 2024, with Priscilla Shirer. Priscilla is a unique woman of God. In addition to being an author, actress, etc. She is also a preacher and teacher of the word of God. Her event was terrific and brought together women from all different ethnic and faith denominational backgrounds. I have always admired Priscilla for her life-changing perspective, knowledge, and faith. Her books have helped me in my journey, so I was super excited to be in a space with her for an entire day.
There was an overwhelming feeling during the conference that I can’t explain. Ten key things were most important to take away and reflect on from Priscilla Shirer’s teaching. She articulately broke down the word and helped put the ten things below into perspective. The practical application of biblical principles for spiritual growth was the key to her event. Identifying the main points that would help advance spiritual growth was essential. The ten main principles I have learned from Priscilla’s teaching are
Powerful Prayer: Develop a rich prayer life by creating a daily prayer routine. This might include morning devotions, a prayer journal, or using the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). Remember that prayer is a two-way communication—learn to listen for God’s guidance as well.
Bible Study: This involves setting aside dedicated time each day to read and reflect on Scripture. It’s not just about reading but also meditating on the words and applying them to your life. Consider using a structured Bible reading plan or devotional guide to help maintain consistency.
Believer Identity: Understanding who you are in Christ means internalizing truths from Scripture about your value and purpose. This includes recognizing that God loves, forgives, and chooses you. Regularly affirm these truths to combat negative self-talk and worldly influences.
Divine Purpose:
Discover and pursue God’s unique calling for your life. This involves identifying your spiritual gifts, passions, and the needs around you. Align your daily decisions, career choices, and relationships with this sense of divine purpose.
Walking in Holiness:
Strive for personal sanctification by allowing the Holy Spirit to transform your character. This involves identifying areas of sin or weakness in your life and actively working to align your behavior with biblical principles. Seek accountability from other believers in this journey.
Spiritual Warfare:
Be aware that spiritual forces are at work in the world. Learn to identify areas of vulnerability in your life and use spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, and Scripture memorization as weapons against temptation and negative influences.
In Tune with Discernment:
Discernment helps you determine those that are for you and those that are not. It’s an intuition that guides you in dealing with people. Operating with spiritual discernment includes learning to recognize God’s voice over all your loud thoughts and the world’s constant noise. This is a gift, and it intensifies when you take time from your busy schedule to pray and read Scripture consistently. This gift also strengthens over time when you partner with other faithful believers. Discernment helps you practice hearing God along with operating in biblical truth to navigate situations in your life.
Walking in Servant-hood:
Learning how to be a real servant is an important attribute. People around you need your help, so look for ways to serve. There are several ways to serve, such as volunteering, community outreach, using your gifts and talents, or helping others with needs like your family, friends, or coworkers. Serving presents an opportunity to show Christ’s love on earth.
Consistent Faith:
Believing God’s word is key to increasing your faith. When negative feelings like anxiety, depression, fear, or sadness come to the surface, read your word and remind yourself of God’s promises in Scripture. Your habits should reflect who you are in Christ and help you level up your faith. Learn how to write God’s word on your heart by practicing remembering Bible scriptures that speak to God’s faithfulness, goodness, and promises.
Learning Forgiveness:
Learning to forgive others requires obedience to God, no matter the offense or whether the person asks to be forgiven. Forgiveness is a choice, and we all have hard choices to make. These include forgiving yourself for past behaviors and accepting God’s forgiveness. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Operating in unforgiveness can block blessings and hold back things that God has for you.
All of these points reflect a crucial area of spiritual growth. If they are used and practiced often and at the same time, they will lead to an intense relationship with God and deeper faith. Know that growing spiritually takes some time, and it’s a lifelong journey. You have to take your time and be patient with yourself and your progress over time. There will be challenges, but take your learning one day at a time.
Overall, the spiritual event was a wonder. After attending, I felt like I had grown to a new level. I was able to get some books and workbooks to help me practice what I learned. I enjoyed her style of teaching and enjoyed receiving a piece of her greatness.
