The truth is, spiritual growth takes time. Life is full of constraints, and many of the distractions and frustrations and even the people we may think are getting in the way of our disciplined routines are themselves the slow but necessary pathway to holiness. When I speak with older believers who radiate the joy of Jesus, they often talk about their lingering sins and how their progress is far from where they’d like it to be. 

“Read your Bible, pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” This song was omnipresent in my earliest years of church life, chosen by Sunday-school teachers because of its simple message (and its corresponding motions for fidgety kids). The song presents a general truth: spiritual growth is linked to spiritual sustenance. We receive nourishment from the Scriptures and abide in Christ through prayer. Naturally then, Bible reading and prayer are crucial for spiritual growth.

But these practices don’t guarantee results. No foolproof formula exists. Many believers striving to overcome persistent sins often feel their Bible reading or prayer doesn’t bring victory. They seek spiritual nourishment but still feel stuck in their struggles. Likewise, history shows that daily Bible readers and those committed to prayer can sometimes become self-righteous, more like the Pharisee than the tax collector in Jesus’s parable. Reading the Bible won’t necessarily make you holier; it could make you holier-than-thou.

Search for the Perfect Technique

When the Christian life doesn’t follow the simple, formulaic approach we learned as children, we often seek new methods. We hunt for the perfect technique or tool to maximize our Bible reading or make us more consistent in prayer. What practices will transform my life? What rhythms, formulas, or liturgies might help me gain the most from spiritual disciplines?

We live in an era flooded with life hacks—new exercise regimens, cooking recipes, productivity shortcuts, and self-optimization strategies. The message is clear: Find the right technique and everything will change. We’re bombarded with marketing, which influences how we think, even in spiritual matters. This hyperfocus on techniques and disciplines often drives our conversations about spiritual formation. We’re drawn to it because of our consumer society and our hearts’ inclination toward self-justification. The desire for self-optimization warps into the belief we’re responsible for our spiritual growth.

Slow Road to Holiness

The result for spiritual formation? Almost all our attention goes to the habits of formation, and little to none to the Spirit’s part in spiritual growth. This misplaced emphasis has consequences. When we trust in techniques, we sideline the Spirit. Our focus shifts from God’s grace in sanctification to external outcomes. We grow frustrated with the slow pace of our spiritual journey, expecting faster progress toward holiness.

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