Spiritual Formation Reflection Paper

Spiritual formation is one subject that I like to discuss in that it really helps one reflect on their own spiritual journey and where they are in that journey. The devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy any step forward towards God. He is not after anything tangible that we possess, rather, he is only after our faith in God and belief in Jesus. Knowing this is part of our spiritual journey as fighting against the enemy requires spiritual warfare in which the only one that can help is Jesus. A transformation in our character to be like Jesus is essential to our spiritual growth. This cannot be done without being intentional with our time, finances, and disciplines. The Holy Spirit plays a very important role in our Spiritual transformation.

In the spirit of transparency, I am lacking several fruits of the spirit. Self-control, and gentleness. I am cynical towards people’s intentions and genuine care towards me stemming from my somewhat unfair expectations that I have set for people. Gentleness and is lacking as I get frustrated with difficult people and at times I can get rude and harsh in my dealings with the difficult people. Self-control issues come into play in my sexual nature. I have a past that was filled with fornication and lustfulness towards women stemming from my wife cheating on me at the age of twenty-one. At thirty-four, I still deal with the desires of the

I have almost gone into hiding, if you will, from God because I feel that I cannot be forgiven over and over of the same sins. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (New International Version, Romans 7.15). I realize, however, that in my weakness that Jesus’s power is made perfect. “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12.7-10). The absence of the fruits of the Spirit in my life inhibits the kingdom of God in my life in that His power is not fully noticed in my actions and character. Being in Christ and belonging to His kingdom sets me apart from the world and so I am to live for Him and serve him while seeking His kingdom first. When lost in my desires of the flesh, I am not seeking His kingdom. Rather, I am seeking my own desires and