There is no one-size-fits-all guide for finding faith. Each person’s spiritual path is unique and often times winding. Growing a faith journey can be difficult, isolating and uncertain, but it doesn’t have to be.
When beginning a spiritual journey, there are several ways of getting encouraged, engaged and inspired. Utilizing religious texts, scriptures, and spiritual literature is an excellent way to stimulate one’s faith and can provide much-needed reassurance.
Finding Faith — Great Spiritual Texts for All
Below are a few of the timeless texts which ignite, encourage and equip individuals on a faith journey:
Bible
The Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God. This religious text, composed of 66 books of the Old Testament and New Testament, contains numerous inspirational stories and divine knowledge. In the Bible, individuals will find solace, hope, and direction.
Qur’an
The Qur’an is the sacred scripture of Islam. It is based Ayat (verses) and Surahs (chapters) which provides doctrinal guidance to Muslims. It is a text of numerous reflects and meditations which direct individuals on their spiritual wellsprings.
The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse spiritual epic from the Hindu scripture, the Mahabharata. Composed by important figures in Indian literature, such as Krishna and Arjuna, the text contains intricate insights about life, death and wars. The Bhagavad Gita is an inspirational poem off divine wisdom, helping readers to discover their inner purpose.
The Dhammapada
The Dhammapada is a traditional religious text from Buddhism. It includes 423 ‘sayings’, each conveying a moral lesson or teaching. It is a guide to awaken understanding and offer enlightenment, while instilling a deeper spiritual connection with oneself.
The Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching is a foundational text of the Taoism religion. It is composed of 81 poetic verses which convey the nature of life and the composure Christians should have when facing difficulties. These verses provide enlightenment on the mysteries of life and how to abandon restraints, allow truth and find peace.
Harvesting Grains of Divine Knowledge: A Guide to Reading Spiritual Texts
Finding faith requires commitment, dedication and motivation. Utilizing a spiritual text is an excellent way to stimulate discussions and direct one’s personal growth. Below is a guide to comprehending spiritual texts and harvesting the grains of divine knowledge within:
- Prepare for a journey
Regularly reading spiritual texts should be like embarking on a journey. Before undertaking a journey, travelers prepare provisions, mental readiness, and loads of motivation.
- Read with an open mind
Reading spiritual texts requires individuals to read with an open mind. When read with discernment, this allows readers to consider truths they may disagree with and ponder possible outcomes.
- Make sense of abstract thoughts
Spiritual texts are filled with abstract thoughts, profound concepts and unpredicted messages. In order to uncover their true meaning, readers need to take time to process and ponder passages. It is important to take time to make sense of abstract thoughts and apply them to everyday life.
- Give it time
Spiritual texts are complex in nature and may take upped multiple readings to fully understand and comprehend. When reading a spiritual text, patience and persistence are key. Give it time and don’t be discouraged if it takes time to develop clarity.
- Look out for unifying themes
For greater clarity and comprehension, look out for unifying themes within spiritual texts. That is, the general topics, subjects, themes which draw texts together and provide meaningful answers to important divine questions.
Finding faith can be an arduous journey, but it can also generate profound understanding, hope and redemption. Utilizing spiritual texts such as the Bible, Qur’an, Bhagavad Gita, Dhammapada, or the Tao Te Ching are some of the best ways to get inspired and engaged with a spiritual path. By reading and comprehending these spiritual texts, individuals can uncover profound thoughts, grown spiritually, and find divine knowledge.
