Talking about the ‘practicality of spirituality’ sounds like an oxymoron. Practicality deals with facts rather than ideas, and spirituality is about the unseen aspects of faith.
Does that make those terms contradictory? No, because people who follow a spiritual path can find practical benefits, and there are many clear facts which 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
This article is not about “How” we come to faith (others in the STEPS Journey Blog do address that topic) but on “Why” a spiritual life has practical benefits.
Why is a pursuit of spirituality so practical? Because it will deliver:
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.- A moral compass to make better decisions – Even atheists and agnostics most likely understand, at least subliminally, that there is a universal standard for right and wrong that resides somewhere deep inside of us. This internal compass can help guide us toward a positive lifestyle that brings less problems and more satisfaction.
- Practical how-to guidance – The Bible is full of practical wisdom that can help us live effectively, e.g. Proverbs is a treasure chest of helpful advice we can use on a daily basis.
- Better relationships – Generally, people who are in touch with their spirituality become kinder and more empathetic of others, which leads to more enjoyable relationships.
- A more positive outlook – A solid belief system gives us a stronger sense of purpose. We learn to hold onto hope, no matter what is going on in our lives or how dark things seem.
Spirituality can bring practical benefits to a variety of areas of our lives. Other STEPS Journey Blog articles that highlight some of these areas include:
- How to Live One Day at a Time
- Why We Need a Life Plan
- Managing Money Wisely
- Achieving Success and Satisfaction at Work
And even if we approach this assertion about the practicality of spirituality from the other direction, we see that it is valid as we consider thoughtful questions such as the ones below:
- If we are living without God, how is that working out, and are we really happy?
- Do we 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?
Overall, there are many good reasons why a spiritual life has practical benefits.
Investigating Spirituality in a Practical Manner
An understanding of spirituality can also be arrived at in a practical manner, at least the form of spirituality I believe in, which is Christianity.
You don’t have to leave your brain at the door to accept faith. 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. Other articles at the links below provide practical, factual information about questions such as:
If you are a practical person, you owe it to yourself to search for the truth.
Personally, I have always been somewhat pragmatic in nature. Many of those practical questions, and the factual answers I found, played a key role in my spiritual journey.
We have seen that there is a strong case for the practicality of spirituality. But the only thing that matters, is, “What do you think?”
Question: Which of the practical benefits of spirituality seem most attractive to you?
Action: Use the web links above to pursue answers to any questions you may have.
Photo by missportilla 
Photo by gcoldironjr2003
