I challenge you: press beyond where you are in your faith and in your prayer life. Don’t settle for where you’ve been. Let’s keep climbing. Let’s go higher.
So how do you get up this “mountain”? There’s no chairlift, no shortcut, no easy ride to the top – only one way forward.
When I’m in Austria during the summer, I like to walk the ski slopes. There’s one route that stretches 22 kilometres, and it’s not easy. It takes effort, endurance, and determination. So how do I make it? By setting a steady pace – and then keeping it, step by step by step.
It’s the same in your spiritual life. The journey doesn’t begin at the summit; it begins with a single step. And then another. And another. You may not go as far as someone else, but what matters is that you’ve begun. Keep moving forward, keep your pace, and you’ll find yourself climbing higher than you ever thought possible.
How to Grow in Faith and Prayer: A Step-by-Step Guide
To reach new heights in your spiritual life, you must move beyond your current plateau. Just as climbing a mountain requires physical endurance, deepening your faith requires a consistent, intentional approach.
1. Embrace the "No Shortcuts" Mindset
Deepening your prayer life isn't about finding a "spiritual chairlift." True growth requires:
Effort: Choosing to show up even when you don't feel like it.
Endurance: Staying the course through seasons of "spiritual dryness."
Determination: Setting your sights on a higher connection with God.
2. Find Your "Spiritual Pace"
In the Austrian Alps, hikers tackle 22-kilometer slopes not by sprinting, but by maintaining a steady, sustainable pace. In your faith journey, consistency beats intensity.
Key Insight: You don’t need to match someone else’s speed. What matters is that you start and refuse to stop.
3. Practical Steps to Start Your Ascent
If you feel stuck at the base of the mountain, use these three steps to begin your climb:
The First Step: Dedicate five minutes every morning to silent prayer or scripture.
The Constant Step: Create a "rhythm of grace" – small prayers throughout your workday.
The Forward Step: Audit your spiritual habits weekly. Ask yourself: "Am I settling, or am I climbing?"