Talking about the “practicality of spirituality” may sound at first like an oxymoron. Practicality deals with facts rather than ideas, and spirituality is about the unseen aspects of faith. Right?
Yes, but does that make those terms contradictory? No, because people who follow a spiritual path can find practical benefits in their lives, and there are many such positives that support a pursuit of spirituality.
Practicality comes from being useful, and spirituality is extremely helpful in our day-to-day life.
Understanding the Practicality of Spirituality
What are some of the ways that a spiritual life has practical benefits? Because it will help us find:
- More peace and less worry – Faith brings serenity into our lives. Accepting that there is a God who is in control and wants what is best for us is a critical step on a pathway to peace.
- Practical how-to guidance – The Bible is full of practical wisdom that can help us live effectively, e.g. the book of Proverbs is a treasure chest of helpful advice we can use on a daily basis.
- Self-worth and contentment – It’s ironic that the harder we try to prove our worth to the world, the worse we often feel inside. Instead, we can recognize that we are given worth by our Creator.
- More satisfying relationships – Generally, people who are in touch with their spirituality become kinder and more empathetic of others, which leads to deeper and more enjoyable relationships.
- A moral compass to make decisions – Even atheists and agnostics most likely understand, at least subliminally, that there is a universal standard for right and wrong. We each have a God-given spiritual compass that can help guide us toward a positive lifestyle that brings less problems and more satisfaction.
- An ordinarily more positive outlook – A solid belief system gives us a stronger sense of purpose. We learn to hold on to hope, no matter what is going on in our lives or how dark things seem. Life has more meaning.
- Answers to our search for significance – As we travel along our life journey, hopefully we eventually realize, “It’s not all about me!” Life takes on a whole new level of significance when we focus on God and others rather than only ourselves.
Spirituality can bring practical benefits to many areas of our lives. Since it affects virtually every aspect of our existence and how we experience life, it’s worth thinking about and asking important questions such as:
- If we are living without God, how is that working out, and are we truly, deeply happy?
- Do we really think we will have a more rewarding life if we focus only on ourselves?
- Are we willing to use our mind and our heart to search for the truth about God?
There are many good reasons why a spiritual life has practical benefits, so it makes sense for us to pursue the truth.
Investigating Spirituality in a Practical Manner
An understanding of spirituality can also be arrived at in a practical manner. At least, the spirituality I believe: Christianity.
You don’t have to leave your brain at the door to accept faith in God. In fact, using your intellect can help you make progress on your spiritual journey as long as you are willing to keep an open mind. There are a few articles at the links below that provide practical, factual information to help you along that journey about questions such as:
If you are a practical and reasonable person, you owe it to yourself to search for the truth.
Personally, I have always been somewhat pragmatic in nature. Many of those practical considerations and the logical questions I asked, plus the factual answers I found, played a key role in my spiritual journey.
There is a strong case for the practicality of spirituality. But the thing that matters most is, “What do you think?”
