In James 1:5-8, double-mindedness is presented as an unstable and doubt-prone state of being. Characterized by inconsistent beliefs and actions, it can result in a life marked by instability and confusion. The analogy of a wave tossed by the wind illustrates the lack of commitment and tendency to waver between trust and doubt that defines double-mindedness.

James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Double-mindedness can truly be tormenting and God wills for his people to be free of this mental and spiritual state.

The Spiritual Root of Double-Mindedness

Doubt is at the root of double-mindedness. It is the driving force that leads to a divided mind, often manifesting in emotional instability and a lack of peace. The enemy exploits our doubt to undermine our faith. This ongoing inner conflict can tear a person between two opposing forces, leading to double-mindedness.

Recognizing the Signs of Double-mindedness

Double-mindedness can be identified by its characteristicss, which include emotional volatility, uncertainty in decision-making, confusion, and a tendency to compromise with sin. It’s a condition that can creep into our lives unnoticed, but when recognized, can be addressed through spiritual discipline and a commitment to God.

For further information and a more in-depth exploration of the subject matter, please refer to the article titled “7 Characteristics of a Double-Minded Believer,”.

Steps to Overcome Double-mindedness

To break the stronghold of double-mindedness, you must first submit to God by having faith in him, resist the devil, and ask the Holy Spirit to purify your heart. This involves us drawing near to God, repenting of double-mindedness by renouncing our lack of faith and trust in Him and seeking wisdom and guidance from the Lord. 

James 4:7-10

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Double-mindedness can also come from demonic spirits that need to be cast out. If you feel your double-mind is out of your control, seek deliverance from your Pastor.

Freedom from double-mindedness comes by repenting of the doubt that led us into it. Once we repent, the Lord can free us of this condition. From there, we need the Holy Spirit to fill us again with his power and yield our hearts and minds to Christ.

Discover more resources for spiritual growth and finding your identity in Christ. Check out “Child of the Most High,” a book designed to guide you on this transformative journey. Get your copy here.

Maintaining a Single-minded Focus

The bible teaches that we have the mind of Christ but many times we find ourselves struggling with double-mindedness because we do not yield our minds over to Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16:

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Cultivating a single-minded focus requires discipline and intentionality. To come out of this lifestyle, we need to yield our minds to Christ. 

This involves developing a consistent prayer and bible study routine, resisting temptation with the help of the Holy Spirit, and avoiding compromise with sin. By doing so, you can achieve emotional stability, a deeper connection with God, and having a Christ-like mind that is free from a divided focus.

Breaking the stronghold of double-mindedness can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to rely on his strength to overcome.

The Importance of Commitment

In the face of double-mindedness, commitment to God is key. It takes courage to confront the areas of our lives that are divided, and a firm commitment to God’s guidance to overcome the confusion and instability that come with double-mindedness. By choosing to trust God fully, we can break free from the stronghold of doubt and fear.

Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters. We either love one and hate the other. This rule also applies to double-mindedness as double-mindedness causes us to waver between two conflicting forces.

Matthew 6:24

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Likewise, in the time of Elijah, we see the Israelites facing this very thing. They were conflicted between the God of Israel and the false god, Baal.

1 Kings 18:21

21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.

Double-mindedness can result in destruction to the point where our hearts can turn away from God to pursue false things.

The Path to Peace and Stability

To truly overcome double-mindedness, it’s important that we ask the Holy Spirit to give us commitment to him. Our yes needs to be yes.

Matthew 5:37

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

The path to peace and stability is paved with the principles of submission, resistance, and drawing near to God. By embracing these truths and actively working to purify our hearts, we can find the inner peace that comes from a single-minded focus on God. This journey is not easy, but with perseverance and faith, it is possible to live a life free from the turmoil of double-mindedness.

If you were blessed by this article, consider sharing it with a friend.

The post How to Break the Stronghold of Double-mindedness appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .

Table of Contents

• Definition of Double-Mindedness
• Inconsistency in Prayer and Worship
• Indecision in Decision Making
• Lack of Trust in God’s Plan
• Tendency to Compromise with Sin
• Unstable Emotions and Attitudes
• Difficulty in Maintaining Relationships

What is a Double-Minded Man

In the Bible, a double-minded man, as mentioned in James 1:8, is someone who lacks stability in various aspects of life. This term describes an individual who struggles with commitment and consistency in their thoughts, beliefs, and actions, even if they profess faith in God. This struggle is evident in irregular prayer habits, difficulty making decisions, and a reluctance to trust in God’s plan, resulting in heightened anxiety. Overcoming this state involves seeking guidance from God, resisting temptations, focusing on the reliability of God, and consistently investing in meaningful relationships.

What does it mean to be double-minded

Being double-minded refers to being conflicted between opposing thoughts, beliefs, and opinions. We see this example in 1 Kings 18:21 where Elijah confronts the Israelites about wavering between following God or the false god Baal.

When a person is double minded, they are tossed between conflicting viewpoints as James describes. This stems from the persons doubt and manifests itself In a lack of commitment, consistency, and faith.

Inconsistency in Prayer and Worship

One of the most evident characteristics of a double-minded believer is inconsistency in prayer and worship. They may have moments of deep devotion and spiritual fervor, but this is often followed by periods of apathy or neglect. Inconsistent prayer and worship can lead to a weakened relationship with God and a lack of spiritual growth.

Indecision in Decision Making

Double-minded believers often struggle with indecision in decision-making. They may be torn between following God’s will and pursuing their own desires. This indecision can lead to missed opportunities and a lack of direction in life. To overcome indecision, it’s important to seek God’s guidance through prayer and the study of His Word.

Discover more resources for spiritual growth and finding your identity in Christ. Check out "Child of the Most High," a book designed to guide you on this transformative journey. 

Lack of Trust in God’s Plan

Another characteristic of a double-minded believer is a lack of trust in God’s plan. They may struggle to fully surrender their future to God and instead rely on their own abilities and plans. This lack of trust can lead to anxiety and fear and can hinder spiritual growth. To overcome this, it’s important to meditate on God’s promises and trust in His sovereignty.

Tendency to Compromise with Sin

Double-minded believers may also struggle with a tendency to compromise with sin. They may know what is right but struggle to resist temptation, leading to a cycle of guilt and shame. To overcome this, it’s important to confess sin and ask for forgiveness, and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to resist temptation.

Unstable Emotions and Attitudes

Double-minded believers may experience unstable emotions and attitudes, often fluctuating between joy and despair, hope and doubt, and faith and fear. This instability can lead to a lack of peace and stability in one’s life. To overcome this, it’s important to focus on God’s faithfulness and to develop a consistent prayer and study routine.

Difficulty in Maintaining Relationships

Finally, double-minded believers may struggle to maintain relationships, both with God and with others. They may struggle with trust issues and a lack of commitment, leading to strained relationships. To overcome this, it’s important to seek reconciliation and forgiveness and to develop a habit of consistently investing in relationships.

Conclusion

Double-mindedness is a common struggle among believers, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent state. By recognizing the characteristics of a double-minded believer and seeking God’s help and guidance, we can learn how to break the stronghold of double-mindedness and cultivate a deeper, more consistent relationship with God.

The post 7 Characteristics of a Double-Minded Believer appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .

This is because when Jesus gave his life for us, he didn’t come just for us to say a prayer and accept him. He wanted to transform our lives to make us more like him so we could also bring new believers to God’s kingdom.

Spiritual growth is a journey for all Christians to take on. Our purpose is to build a closer walk with Christ which results in us transforming from glory to glory as we grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit plays a major role in our spiritual growth. He is the one that brings an understanding of the scriptures and helps us apply them in our daily lives. His transforming power allows us to forsake sin, bear spiritual fruit, and take on the righteousness of Christ.

The process of growing spiritually is known as sanctification. In today’s post, I’m going to give you 7 keys to spiritual growth that will help you grow closer to God and live a healthy spiritual life.

If you’re short on time here’s what we’ll be covering:

1. What Is Spiritual Growth?
2. The Importance of Spiritual Growth
3. Spiritual Growth Helps us Make Better Decisions
4. What Are The Stages of Spiritual Growth
5. Characteristics of Spiritual Growth
6. Scriptures on Spiritual Growth
7. Here are 7 Powerful Keys To Spiritual Growth.
8. Putting The 7 Keys Into Practice.

Let’s get to it!

What Is Spiritual Growth?

Spiritual growth is the process of a Christian becoming more like Christ Jesus through sanctification.

When a person accepts Jesus in their heart, immediately, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in that person and begins applying the finished work of Christ to their lives. As the new believer builds a relationship with God, it will result in a new life that glorifies our heavenly father.

This comes from studying the word, being in fellowship with other Christians, being constant in prayer, and loving God.

2 Corinthians 3:18

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Spiritual growth is demonstrated by how much Christ is reflected in our lifestyle. Our behavior and the decisions we make daily to love and obey Jesus. When we are living a godly life, our actions will line up with his word and will demonstrate that we love God.

Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth

Spiritual growth begins in our minds and the way we think. Apart from Christ, we were born sinners by default, and our minds were hostile towards God, thinking only things that didn’t please Him. This is why the Bible teaches us that we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds because our thoughts were of this world and of the flesh.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

When we allow God to transform our minds, His Spirit begins to act and gives us the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Key takeaway: Spiritual growth is becoming less like the world and more like Jesus Christ.

The Importance of Spiritual Growth

Growing spiritually is important because the Bible teaches that every Christian should seek to grow in their knowledge of Jesus. 2 Peter 3:18.

Spiritual growth is part of God’s plan of sanctification. This is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our Christian life.

Becoming spiritually mature is the process of parting farther away from the old sinful man and becoming more like Jesus.

As Christ-followers, we are called to draw closer to our heavenly father in deeper fellowship and to stay far away from stagnancy.

This allows us to open ourselves up to the work of God in us. For us to achieve spiritual growth, we have to allow God to do the work in us which can only happen if we draw near to Him.

John 5:17

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Spiritual Growth Helps Us Make Better Decisions

If we’re constantly seeking spiritual growth, we will gain many benefits from it.

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Let’s look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11:

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

As Paul described; as he grew, he gave up immature ways and was better as a result.

Spiritual growth allows us to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. All things that will help us make better decisions which should give us hope for the future.

What Are The Stages of Spiritual Growth?

Like any process in life, there are stages to spiritual growth.

These are the stages I like the define:

1. Spiritual Infancy
2. Spiritual Childhood
3. Elderhood

Spiritual Infancy

I like to look at spiritual infancy the way we look at newborn babies. This is the stage where we first accept Jesus into our hearts and become a Christian.

During this stage, we don’t know much scripture but we love Jesus and know that we want a relationship with Him.

It’s during this stage that we need the fellowship of other believers to help us grow in God’s word, stand strong in the faith, and break worldly habits.

Spiritual Childhood

In my opinion, once a person starts to bear fruit and lives in truth, they begin entering a spiritual childhood.

This is a stage in a believer’s life where they aren’t fully mature in the word but are living a life set apart for God.

They still need to be discipled by elders but are showing their growth.

Elderhood

This stage of a Christian is where they are equipped to lead others in the Church. The Bible gives a description of key things that are required for a person to be considered an elder.

1 Timothy 3:1-16:

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Characteristics of Spiritual Growth

With the busyness of life, It gets very easy to forget the simple things that help us grow such as:

• Daily reading of the Bible
• Prayer

Jesus makes a great deal about this in John 15:2

John 15:2

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

it’s either you bear fruit or you don’t, and if you do, He’s going to prune you so that you bear even more.

But, what is the fruit that Jesus is talking about? These are the characteristics of spiritual maturity.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These are the characteristics of spiritual maturity:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control

Bearing Fruit of The Holy Spirit

As Christians, bearing good fruit resembles our relationship with God.

it’s vital to the health of our spirit man to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

For us to be gain these characteristics, we have to apply the following:

• Repent of sin
• Seek God through prayer,
• Learn how to worship Him
• Read the Bible.

Key Takeaway: Bearing the fruit of the spirit shows us if we are spiritually mature, which resembles our relationship with God.

Scriptures On Spiritual Growth

Now that we understand spiritual maturity a little bit more. I want to give you some of my favorite Bible verses on maturity in Christ.

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

1 Peter 2:2-3

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

How To Grow Spiritually According To The Bible

Now that you understand spiritual maturity, let’s talk about how to achieve it.

We’re going to use the word of God to get you out of any spiritual rut you may be in and get you back on track to walking in the fullness of God.

Here are the 7 keys at a glance:

1. Dedicate time to studying the word of God
2. Spend time in prayer and fasting
3. Be in fellowship with believers
4. Learn to become a servant
5. Learn to worship God for who He is
6. Examine yourself and repent of sin
7. Walk with the Holy Spirit Daily

Dedicate Time To Studying The Bible

The only reason why we may not mature is if we don’t feed our spirit man with the word of God.

Romans 10:17

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Reading your bible must graduate from simple reading to deep studying.

If you find yourself lost, check out our step-by-step guide on how to study the bible for beginners.

Everyone should own a good study Bible.

My personal favorite is the ESV Study Bible. I have been using it for years and haven’t looked back since.

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

The author of Hebrews makes it clear to us, There comes a time to move on from the basics of milk to solid food.

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

This verse should make us want to study our bibles.

as it says to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For us to do that, we need to scratch beneath the surface.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of devotionals. They’re just not enough.

I would recommend a good study bible or commentary.

Key Takeaway: Devote time to reading your bible and graduate from reading to studying. 

Spend Time In Prayer & Fasting

There’s no avoiding this.

If you want to mature spiritually, you absolutely have to pray and fast. 

I’m not just talking about praying for your food, your day at work, or for great weather to go to the beach.

No, I’m talking about dedicating quality time to pray, fast, and intercede.

Now for our prayers to be effective, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to align us to God’s perfect will.

1 John 5:14

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

We also need to go the extra mile and deny our flesh in fasting so we can pray more effectively.

Key Takeaway: We need to dedicate quality time to prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to align us with God’s will.

Be In Fellowship With Believers

Fellowship and unity are an important aid in our growth. We need to be in a Spirit-filled church.

Unfortunately, many people believe that not going to church and fellowshipping with other Christians is okay. That’s not what the Bible says.

Proverbs 11:14

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Key Takeaway: Being part of a Spirit-filled church is essential to our spiritual health.

Learn To Value Servanthood

if you want to be an effective Christian, you have to learn to become a servant.

This is not anything that the Lord himself did not teach. 

Matthew 20:28

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Matthew 23:11

The greatest among you must be a servant.

These are the very words of Jesus Himself. Spiritual growth and maturity are shown when you are willing to serve others above yourself.

This is what love is. To put others’ needs and desires above our own. 

Key Takeaway: Spiritual maturity is evident when you are willing to serve others.

Learn To Worship God For Who He Is

Spiritual maturity also requires an understanding of what the Bible says worship is.

God is worthy to be worshiped just for who He is.

We also can’t forget how much God has provided for us.

Take a minute to reflect on the Lord’s goodness in your life. Would you be here today if it were not for God?

Psalm 86:9-10

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

This just reminds us that there is no one like our God.

When we learn to seek God’s face and not just HIs hands, we will then start to understand what it is to mature spiritually.

Key Takeaway: Learning to seek God’s face over His hands is a true sign of spiritual maturity.

Examine Yourself And Repent Of Sin

If there is anything that will paralyze our walk with God, its sin.

Temptation itself is not a sin. Giving into it is.

When we accept Jesus, He gives us a new nature. A holy nature.

The problem is, we still have sin living within us and we wrestle with it daily. We need to recognize this on-going war within ourselves and learn how to overcome temptation.

1 John 1:10

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Key Takeaway: Examine yourself daily according to the scriptures.

Walk With The Holy Spirit Daily

Reaching spiritual maturity is only guided by the Holy Spirit and can’t be reached apart from a relationship with him.

He is the one who reveals God’s word to us and transforms us.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we become regenerated.

Romans 8:14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

The more we grow spiritually, the more likely our lives will be full of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We need to build a stronger relationship with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus.

We need a sensitive ear to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

He speaks beyond words and we need to be able to hear Him. The way we do that is by:

• Praying
• Seeking Him
• Reading the bible. 

Key Takeaway: Seek to build a stronger relationship with the Holy Spirit

Putting The 7 Keys Into Practice

As we conclude, I want to layout some action items for you.

All of these 7 keys are great for your spiritual maturity but they are nothing without your application.

So here are some final tips to get you started:

• Read your bible daily.
• Spend quality time in prayer
• Worship God during your commute to work
• Start serving in your church even if it’s cleaning the bathroom
• Start building relationships with people in your church

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to grow spiritually, you need to practice these things regularly.

Growing spiritually requires your effort. The best way to do that is by reading your bible and self study books.

I recommend Child Of The Most High .

You will find an eye-opening approach to what it means to be a child of God

Now it’s your turn.

Which of the 7 keys will you be applying first? Let me know in the comments below.

The post 7 Keys To Spiritual Growth To Apply In 2023 appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .