Faith Filter Series — Part 2 of 4
This article is part of the Faith Filter Series, a four-part journey designed to help you stop chasing more faith advice and begin discerning the faith practices that fit how God uniquely designed you to grow.
Missed Part 1? Read Before You Start Another Bible Study, Ask Yourself These 3 Questions.
How to Choose the Spiritual Practice You Need Most in This Season
Have you ever looked at all the spiritual disciplines Christians talk about and quietly wondered…
“Am I supposed to be doing all of these?”
- Read your Bible.
- Pray more.
- Keep a journal.
- Practice silence and solitude.
- Fast.
- Worship.
- Serve.
- Memorize Scripture.
- Observe the Sabbath.
Every one of those practices is biblical.
Every one of them can help you grow.
But trying to do all of them at once often leaves us feeling overwhelmed instead of spiritually nourished.
What if that isn’t what God intended?
What if spiritual maturity isn’t about mastering every faith practice at the same time?
What if it’s about learning to discern which practice God is using to draw you closer to Him in this particular season?
I believe that question changes everything.
We Often Treat Every Faith Practice as Equally Urgent
Imagine walking into a doctor’s office.
You wouldn’t expect every patient to receive the exact same treatment.
- One person needs rest.
- Another needs physical therapy.
- Another needs medication.
The goal is the same… health.
The path may look different depending on what each person needs.
Our faith journey works much the same way.
Every spiritual discipline has value.
But each one develops something different within us.
When we assume we should give equal attention to every practice every day, we often create unnecessary pressure.
Instead of helping us grow, our faith begins to feel like another checklist to complete.
Jesus didn’t invite us into a checklist.
He invited us into a relationship.
Faith Design Insight
Healthy spiritual growth isn’t about doing everything. It’s about faithfully responding to God’s invitation for this season.
Discernment helps us choose intentionally rather than simply adding more.
Every Faith Practice Has a Different Purpose
One of the most freeing realizations I’ve had over the years is this:
Every spiritual discipline strengthens a different part of our relationship with God.
Instead of asking,
“Which practice is best?”
Ask,
“What is God cultivating in me right now?”
Here’s a simple way to think about it.
Bible Study
Feeds truth.
God renews our minds through His Word.
If you’re wrestling with confusion, uncertainty, or wanting a deeper understanding of Scripture, spending intentional time studying God’s Word may be exactly where He’s leading you.
Prayer
Builds dependence.
Prayer reminds us that we were never meant to carry life on our own.
When anxiety, uncertainty, or decision-making feels overwhelming, God often invites us back into conversation with Him.
Worship
Cultivates affection.
Worship redirects our attention from ourselves to God’s character.
When our hearts become distracted, discouraged, or spiritually dry, worship often reawakens our love for Him.
Journaling
Brings clarity.
Writing slows our thoughts and helps us recognize what God is teaching us.
For reflective learners or seasons filled with transition, journaling can reveal patterns we might otherwise miss.
Service
Expresses love.
Our faith naturally overflows into serving others.
Sometimes the next step in spiritual growth isn’t learning more—it’s loving someone well.
Silence and Solitude
Creates awareness.
In a noisy world, silence helps us notice God’s presence.
It teaches us to listen instead of constantly speaking or consuming information.
Sabbath
Restores trust.
Sabbath reminds us that God is God, and we are not.
Choosing rest becomes an act of faith, especially for those of us who feel responsible for everything.
Fasting
Deepens surrender.
Fasting gently reveals what has our attention and teaches us to depend more fully on God.
It’s less about giving something up and more about making room for Someone greater.
Which Practice Might You Need Right Now?
Instead of trying to begin all eight this week, ask yourself a few honest questions.
If you’re exhausted…
Maybe God is inviting you into Sabbath.
If you’re anxious…
Perhaps prayer needs to become less of an emergency response and more of a daily conversation.
If you’re spiritually dry…
Worship may help soften your heart again.
If you’re struggling to hear God’s voice…
Silence and solitude may be the invitation.
If you’re feeling confused…
Bible study and journaling together can provide both truth and clarity.
If you’ve become inwardly focused…
Serving someone else may renew your joy.
Notice what we’re doing.
We’re no longer choosing a practice because it’s popular.
We’re choosing it because we’re paying attention to what God may be cultivating.
That’s discernment.
Seasons Change…and So Can Your Faith Rhythm
One of the biggest mistakes I see Christian women make is assuming the rhythm that worked five years ago should still work today.
- But life changes.
- Careers change.
- Families grow.
- Health changes.
- Responsibilities shift.
Even our spiritual needs mature over time.
The faith practices that anchored you during one season may naturally give way to others in the next.
That isn’t inconsistency.
It’s growth.
Throughout Scripture, God met people in different ways depending on where they were and what He was accomplishing in their lives.
He still does.
A Personal Lesson I Had to Learn
After my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, I discovered that many of the routines I had relied on simply weren’t sustainable in the same way they once had been.
At first, I thought I was failing.
But over time, I realized something incredibly freeing.
God hadn’t changed.
His invitation had.
As I learned to pay attention to what He was cultivating instead of trying to recreate a previous season, my relationship with Him became less about keeping up and more about walking faithfully.
That lesson eventually became one of the foundations of the Faith Design framework I teach today.
When You Don’t Know Where to Start
If you’re unsure which faith practice may best support your current season, don’t begin by copying someone else’s routine.
Begin by asking God to help you recognize how He’s uniquely designed you and what He may be inviting you into today.
That’s one of the reasons I created the Faith Shape Quiz to help women begin seeing their relationship with God through the lens of design instead of comparison.
Going Deeper with Your Faith Design
Understanding the purpose behind different spiritual disciplines is incredibly helpful.
Understanding how you naturally engage with those practices is even more transformational.
That’s exactly what the Faith Design Profile Experience helps you discover.
Rather than giving you another one-size-fits-all plan, the Profile helps you understand how God has uniquely designed you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength so you can build a faith rhythm that fits your real life.
Faith Filter Reminder
Before adding another faith practice to your routine, pause and ask:
What is God inviting me to cultivate in this season?
Not every spiritual discipline needs to become your primary focus today.
Sometimes the wisest next step isn’t adding more.
It’s responding faithfully to the invitation already in front of you.
Christian growth isn’t measured by how many spiritual disciplines you practice.
It’s measured by a growing relationship with Jesus.
The beautiful thing about the spiritual disciplines is that they are gifts.
Not burdens.
Not scorecards.
Not expectations to keep up with.
They are invitations.
As you learn to discern which practices are most life-giving in your current season, you’ll likely discover something many Christian women long for:
- More peace.
- More consistency.
And a deeper confidence that you’re walking with God, not simply trying to keep up with everyone else.
I’d Love to Hear From You
Looking at the different faith practices we talked about today, which one do you sense God may be inviting you to focus on in this season…and why?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Be filled to overflowing
DeneenTB
Leave a Reply