Keeping a firm anchor in the faith requires developing a personal relationship with Christ, studying Scripture, embracing the sacraments, living in alignment with Catholic teachings, engaging in spiritual practices, and seeking spiritual guidance. Learn more about these foundational principles in the new KSL TV General Conference weekend special, Anchored in Faith: The Foundation of a Community for Jesus.
1. Develop a Personal Relationship with Christ
For many Christians, the phrase “personal relationship with Christ” can seem overwhelming or unattainable. A healthy relationship with Jesus requires both spiritual and emotional engagement. It requires prayer, study of Scripture and the sacraments. And it demands consistency, as in daily saying “no” to other things and spending time devoted to listening to Jesus.
It starts with recognizing your need for Jesus and confessing your sins to Him. It continues when you accept His forgiveness for your sins through the death He suffered on the cross. It grows when you follow His commands, love Him and serve others. And it deepens when you learn more about Him by reading and studying Scripture, attending church and volunteering in ministries.
Think about your relationships with your spouse, a close friend or a parent. Having a personal relationship with God is much like that, only better because He loves you and gives you eternal life. It can be difficult to establish a spiritual connection, but with patience and practice it is possible to cultivate one.
2. Study Scripture
Getting started with Bible study may feel like a big task. The key is to approach it with a clear purpose in mind. It’s also helpful to have the right tools for the job. This includes a good Bible dictionary and concordance as well as a pen and paper. The final preparation should involve prayer before you study. It helps to prepare your heart so you can receive revelation during your time with God’s Word.
The main idea is that you should start with observation and work your way up to interpretation, connection and application. This process will help you orient yourself to the passage, wrestle with what it’s trying to communicate and examine your life in light of its truths. community for jesus
When studying Scripture, it’s important to consider the historical and cultural context of the passage. You can find this out by asking yourself questions like:
3. Embrace the Sacraments
It’s important to live in accordance with Catholic teachings. This involves embracing the sacraments, which are ritual acts that connect people to God and Jesus. The sacraments include baptism, Eucharist (or communion), confirmation, penance, anointing the sick, marriage, and Holy Orders. It’s also important to engage in spiritual practices, such as examen and lectio divina. These practices help people stay anchored in Scripture and the living vibrancy of faith. They also help them avoid being tossed to and fro by the winds of false doctrine or by people’s craftiness and deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14).
To live in alignment with Catholic teachings, it’s necessary to study and pray.
4. Live in Alignment with Catholic Teachings
Despite the varying political contexts and traditions of Catholic movements in the 20th century, all were united by their defence of the acquired rights of the church (attacked by anti-clericical politicians) and the promotion of Christian values and morality. They were also vehemently opposed to unrestrained capitalism and state socialism. They promoted poverty as a spiritual discipline and labour as the path to salvation.
To live anchored in faith, Christians must study, pray, and discuss scripture in the company of others committed to reaching its profound depths. To do so, they must be firmly rooted in genuine Catholic teachings rather than the manipulative messages often pushed through news and media, and even by some pulpits.
Increasingly, families, small groups, and congregations are engaging in communal spiritual practices—praying together after church on Sunday, fasting as a group during Lent, reading a chapter of the Bible each day, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper every week. Listen to stories from these communities in the KSL TV General Conference weekend special documentary, Anchored in Faith: Stories from the South Pacific.
5. Engage in Spiritual Practices
For some people, developing a daily spiritual practice is a way to connect with God. It can be as simple as reading Scripture in the morning or taking a meditative yoga class. Other people may enjoy the structure of attending a religious service at their church, mosque, synagogue, or temple. They can also engage in other spiritual practices like meditation, which involves sitting in silence for a set amount of time with your thoughts.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion in our country. Faith communities honor this by regularly reaching out to other houses of worship, mosques, temples, sanghas, and spiritual centers. This is an opportunity to share the love of God and learn about other religious beliefs and traditions.
Faith communities can also demonstrate the virtues of mercy and service by hosting community events. For example, many host food drives or soup kitchens to support those in need. They can also convert their unused property to a community garden that helps people grow their own food and connect with nature.
6. Connect with a Faith Community
Faith communities can provide a source of social capital and spiritual support for people in need. Many churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, sanghas and other religious or spiritual communities host activities that promote civic engagement and service. They may also have programs for those seeking employment or looking to improve their job skills.
These types of activities can foster community spirit and reinforce democratic virtues like compassion, hospitality, and generosity. In fact, a number of participants described feeling a sense of connection to others and their community when engaged in spiritual practices. “You’re connected to something bigger than yourself and you have people that are there for you” (participant 2).
Faith communities are in an excellent position to help address the mental health needs of Americans, especially during times of crisis. For example, some congregations are offering sanctuary to immigrants facing deportation, accompanying them for check-ins with ICE and providing translation services and legal support. They can also serve as a safe space for quality group interactions that tackle the root causes of depression and despair that fuel substance abuse.
7. Seek Spiritual Guidance
Spiritual guidance is a powerful tool to unlock your connection to God and increase awareness of His presence in your life. It’s especially helpful at times of loss or transition.
You can seek spiritual guidance by making it a daily practice to tune into the messages your spirit guides send you. This can be done by writing down a note or a letter to your guides at the beginning of each day, or by simply asking them to send you signs throughout the day.
These signs can be as simple as a thought that comes to you, or they may be more concrete. For example, your guide may appear to you in a dream or offer you advice about an obstacle that you are currently facing. In some cases, your guide may even send you people or opportunities that can help you on your journey.
By making it a regular practice to receive these messages, you will find your ability to recognize them increases. In addition, your guides will begin to notice that you are more receptive and open to receiving their guidance, so they will send you more.
8. Practice Virtues
According to ancient philosophers like Socrates, the key to a moral life is wisdom and virtue. He believed that persons who lack wisdom are more likely to act in hurtful and unfair ways while those who practice virtue are naturally disposed to live ethically.
Virtues are habits, and a person develops them through repeated practice. For example, a person becomes more generous through repeated acts of generosity, and a person develops courage through regular practice of being courageous. A person who has developed the virtue of justice, for example, treats all persons fairly and equally.
A person who has developed the virtue of temperance is able to control his or her desires and emotions. The ancient Greek philosophers, the Stoics, viewed the cultivation of virtue as essential to human happiness and well-being (eudaimonia).
A person can practice virtue through spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and service. However, each person may experience spirituality differently. For instance, an introvert might feel more comfortable with personal prayer than with a large fellowship while an extrovert might find that serving others comes more naturally than practicing mindfulness.