A Simple Tool to Help You Assess Your Spiritual Health

What if you had a simple tool that could help you to assess your spiritual health, determine what areas you need to focus on, and track your spiritual growth over time?

It’s a tool that sounded intriguing to me, so I decided to create it.* It’s easy to use – just rate yourself across each ‘spiritual domain,’ then keep track of your ratings over time to keep a pulse on your spiritual health.

Before you use the tool, let me provide a note of warning: it’s important to use this tool in the right way. Understand that it is simply a tool to help you gauge your spiritual growth. This tool is designed for believers (those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because they have believed the Gospel), and it is only intended to help them evaluate and track their spiritual growth. It’s not intended to indicate how close you are to God, to imply that your salvation comes down to your spiritual health, or (God forbid!) as a way to ‘rate yourself’ in comparison to other people! It’s just a tool.

Here is how you use it:

For each domain, read the descriptions and identify which one best describes you at present. Write down the number that corresponds (The middle number for each description means it is ‘about right’ in its description. The lower number means that you aren’t quite there. The higher number indicates that you are doing a little better than described.)

Total the numbers that you wrote down, from each of the spiritual domains.

At the end, I’ll provide a guide to help you identify what these numbers mean for you.

Bible Intake

I know the value of Bible reading, but I’m very sporadic in my personal reading, if I read at all. I don’t have a regular time of day when I read the Bible, and if I do read, it is from wherever I open in my Bible. I never memorize Scripture. Bible reading doesn’t energize me, and I find it hard to follow the meaning of the text. (1, 2, 3)

In theory, I have a routine of Bible reading, but I’m still somewhat inconsistent. I have a general plan for my Bible reading, but I don’t follow it very strictly. I rarely memorize Scripture. I feel like my Bible reading is beneficial, but it isn’t an integral part of my day. (4, 5, 6)

I read the Bible regularly, following a plan that exposes me to large, sequential sections of the Bible. I have a Bible memory plan, which I generally follow. My Bible reading challenges me in my spiritual life, and I feel like I grow as a result of it. I look forward to it as an important and enjoyable part of my day. (7, 8, 9)

I read the Bible voraciously and regularly. Bible reading is an important part of my day, and I normally get up early in order to have extra time to read the Bible. I memorize and retain large sections of Scripture. I generally read through multiple chapters every day, and often get through the Bible more than once a year. I find new ways to take in the Bible, such as listening to the Bible during my morning commute or reading it with other people. Not only do I feel immense spiritual benefit from my reading, but it also provides topics for my discussion with other people. I feel like my life is saturated with Scripture. (10, 11, 12)

Prayer

When I think about prayer, I generally feel guilty. I occasionally pray short prayers that are a sentence or two in length. I feel like I might spend more time praying in front of others than by myself. I don’t have any regular time of prayer, and most of my prayers are simple requests for God to do things for me. (1, 2, 3)

I have a regular time for prayer, but I’m not very consistent with it. Most of my prayer life is characterized by distracted thinking, but I do sometimes have a few minutes of good prayer. I pray for other people when I think of it, and sometimes will take a couple minutes to praise God or give thanks. Prayer often feels more like something that I’m supposed to check off of my ‘to-do’ list, but I am able to do so on most days. (4, 5, 6)

I have a regular time for prayer, and I’m fairly consistent with it. My prayer life is characterized not only by requests, but also praise, thanksgiving, and confession. My prayer life is built around this daily time in which I give myself undistractedly to prayer, but I also occasionally pray throughout the day. I have occasional stories of how God has answered my prayers. (7, 8, 9)

My prayer life feels like an integral part of my life. I consistently spend an extended period of time in prayer each day, in which I pray for myself and others, God’s kingdom, and spend time in praise, thanksgiving, and confession. I also have regular times of prayer scattered throughout the rest of the day. I can sense when I am not in a prayerful mood, and I immediately try to change that. I pray often throughout the day because I sense the presence of God near me, and I feel dependent on him. I have special seasons in my life that are dedicated to prayer and fasting. (10, 11, 12)

Biblical Knowledge

I feel like a beginner when it comes to knowledge of the Bible. I couldn’t tell you the storyline of the Bible, I don’t know where to find a particular book of the Bible, and I’m only vaguely familiar with the main characters in the Bible. I feel unqualified to teach anyone anything about the Bible. I wouldn’t know how to define or describe the ‘gospel.’ (1, 2, 3)

I generally understand who the main characters of the Bible are, and I have memorized the books of the Bible in order. I have a basic understanding of the main storyline of the Bible, and I could probably tell someone the gist of the meaning of the ‘gospel.’ However, I can’t really tell you where to find specific stories or verses in the Bible. (4, 5, 6)

I have a good grasp of the storyline of the Bible. I could arrange biblical characters in chronological order. I generally have some idea of the topics discussed in most any book of the Bible, and I can use this knowledge to have informed, deep, biblical conversations with others about theological topics. I understand the main points of systematic theology and could explain to others the purpose of the Bible, the meaning of the gospel, and how the Old Testament points to the New Testament. I have at least a basic understanding of some of the related fields for biblical study, such as church history, biblical backgrounds, biblical theology, systematic theology, and biblical languages. I understand how to study the Bible for myself. (7, 8, 9)

Although I am far from learning all there is, I have a deep understanding of much of the Bible. I’ve done detailed study of Scripture, and I utilize multiple tools (such as historical, biblical, and systematic theology, biblical backgrounds, and biblical languages) to arrive at a clear and precise meaning of the text. I can describe multiple other viewpoints on various theological topics, but I still know what I believe and why. I am careful to focus on application of Scripture and to avoid becoming merely a theoretical learner. (10, 11, 12)

Holiness

I feel constantly defeated by sin and unable to win many, if any, victories. I hardly feel like I am living the life that Jesus promised. I’m terrified that I may not even be a Christian, because I keep sinning so much. My life doesn’t present a good witness of Christ to the world, and I don’t really demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit. I’m generally self-focused, and I can come across as somewhat uncaring. Faithfulness is severely lacking in my life. I don’t have assurance of salvation. (1, 2, 3)

I see consistent growth in my holiness, but it is extremelly slow and often interrupted by sin. However, I’m encouraged to see progress since the last time that I evaluated myself. My life is more defined by the fruits of the spirit than by the deeds of the flesh. I’m struggling against sin, and while I have frequent defeats, I also experience frequent victories. I’m learning to care more for others. I generally have assurance of salvation, although sometimes it wavers – especially after I slip into sin. (4, 5, 6)

I sense that I have indeed experienced the ‘new birth’ of John 3, because I see the effects of God’s Spirit in my life. My life is characterized by holiness and the pursuit of God. Although I still sin frequently, my life gives evidence of a Christian walk, and although my sins are very troubling to me, I’m not falling into the more ‘obvious’ sins that would generally prick even an unconverted person. I have assurance of salvation that remains with me, even when I do sin. I sometimes deny myself certain lawful pleasures and enjoyments. I have a sense of genuine care for other people, and I often prioritize their needs over my own. (7, 8, 9)

I experience consistent victories over sins, even though I am far from perfect. I’m still convicted frequently of my sin, but I’m much more sensitive to ‘sins’ that I previously didn’t even realize I was committing. The more ‘obvious’ sins that I used to struggle with are essentially gone from my life. When I feel convicted about sins (which I often do, because my conscience is more sensitive to sin than it has ever been), I feel profound regret because I am grieiving the Spirit and dishonoring my Savior. My repentance resembles what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. I see the fruits of the Spirit flourishing in my life. I frequently practice self-denial, because I want to be as spiritually ‘fit’ as possible. I’m motivated by God’s glory, and my experience feels remarkably similar to what is described in Psalm 119. Although there are people who have harmed me in my life, I don’t feel any ill-will toward them and I regularly, genuinely desire and pray for their physical and spiritual well-being. People observe and even mention that I demonstrate genuine tenderness and kindness toward others. (10, 11, 12)

Fellowship and the Church

I’m still something of a loner when it comes to the Christian life. I don’t have much of a connection with other believers, and I am sporadic in my church attendance. I don’t have any consistent discipleship relationships in my life, and I don’t demonstrate much service to other Christians, because they are so absent from my life. I am not a formal member of a local church. (1, 2, 3)

I’m a member of a local church, but I sometimes skip church meetings. When I do attend church, I attend the worship service, but I rarely attend the other church gatherings. I have a few believers that I connect with. I fellowship with other believers on occasion, but we rarely discuss spiritual topics. I’m not sure what Christian hospitality looks like, and I haven’t been initiating it. (4, 5, 6)

I’m a committed member of a local church, and I prioritize my attendance in the church. I’m also involved in some form of lay ministry myself in the church. I stick around after church to fellowship with my brothers and sisters. I have biblical topics of conversation that I sometimes bring up to make our fellowship more spiritual. I get together with other believers outside of church time and we enjoy fellowship, including spiritual conversation. I occasionally minister to the needs of other people in my congregation. (7, 8, 9)

The Christian life feels very communal to me. Although I have a robust spiritual life of my own, I’m also highly connected with my church, including formal church membership. I place a high priority on church meetings, because I want to spend time with God’s people. I’m so eager to be involved that I have to monitor myself to not over-commit. I get together regularly with other believers and we have deep, significant discussion about the Word and how it should impact our lives. During these times, we are vulnerable with each other, sharing our deepest challenges, examining how Scripture applies, and honestly confronting each other over sin in our lives. I regularly practice biblical hospitality, and I frequently serve others in my local church body. (10, 11, 12)

Intimacy with God

I feel generally disconnected from God. I rarely think about Him throughout the day. I know that God exists, and I sometimes feel a need to pray, but most of my life is focused on more immediate concerns. I rarely, if ever, think about eternity. Sometimes I wonder if God even cares about me. I rarely seek God’s guidance in anything, and instead I make the choice that feels best to me. (1, 2, 3)

I have times of feeling close to God, but I also sometimes feel disconnected. The events of life often distract me from spiritual thoughts, but I sometimes sense that I am living in obedience to God and that my daily actions are a form of worship. I seek God’s guidance when I find myself facing big decisions, but I’m not always sure that he is actually guiding those decisions. (4, 5, 6)

I generally have a sense that God is near, and I experience that through the circumstances of life. Scripture often comes to mind, and when I go through difficult things, I sense that God is using those things for good in my life. I increasingly realize that nothing happens to me by ‘accident’ or ‘chance’ – God is directing everything for good. I often seek God’s guidance in the choices of daily life. Although I am sometimes anxious about the future, I find peace as I commit it to God’s hand. I have a sense that the spiritual realm is the most important, and I often think about eternity. (7, 8, 9)

I feel profoundly close to God. I realize that I am human being who lives in a spiritual realm, and everything happens under the direction of God’s sovereignty. The circumstances of life constantly point me to God, and I feel deeply dependent on him. I can’t go even a short time without thinking about God or spiritual ideas. I feel that the created order is deeply meaningful, because it is the handiwork of God, and I have a profound sense of wonder when I contemplate God and his works. The idea of facing God by myself is terrifying to the core and reminds me of my own intense frailty and inability – but I take confidence in knowing that I will stand before God in the righteousness of Christ, and for this reason, I’m not afraid of his rejection. I have a deep sense of the shortness of this life, I think often about my own future death, but rather than being depressed by these thoughts, they spur me to live even more intensely in the present, aware that my days will have an eternal impact. (10, 11, 12)

Faith

I’m not honestly sure what it means to ‘live by faith.’ I make most decisions from my own perspective of what is best or enjoyable. I spend my days doing the things that I enjoy or need to do. I often struggle with anxiety over decisions or over future events. Reading the news can be troubling to me, because it reminds me of how bad things are. I sporadically give money to a church or other ministry. I often find myself in a mindset of trying to be ‘good enough’ for God. I don’t understand how God works. Although I know that He directs everything, I feel extremelly challenged to understand how evil exists in the world, and when He doesn’t answer my prayers the way that I expect, I assume that he just didn’t answer them at all, or that he is angry with me. For this reason, I can often feel very depressed. I find that the pain and hurt in my life is a significant stumbling-block for trusting in God, because I don’t see how He could allow it to happen while still being good. I have my own idea of how I want to live my life, and I don’t really want God to interfere too much with that. (1, 2, 3)

I realize that faith is important for the Christian life, and I’m trying to arrange my life to prioritize that. I’m often unsure of how to live by faith, but I do try to make decisions in light of what the Bible tells me to do. I sometimes find comfort in Jesus and knowing that he is in control of all things. I sometimes battle with anxiety, but I find peace when I turn to spiritual thoughts. I give consistently to a local church or ministry, although it isn’t much. I sometimes find myself thinking that if I could just ‘do better,’ God would be more pleased with me – even though I know that is false. I often sense that God is directing things, but I can also fall into depressing periods of time where I feel ‘lost’ by God’s providence, especially when I feel that he has failed to answer my prayers, or when He directs events in a way that is completely different from what I had prayer for. My confidence that God is behind all things sometimes makes me upset by his providence, because I feel like he is sometimes ‘thwarting’ me or others. The evil and suffering that I and others experience sometimes makes me question God’s goodness, even though I know that He is good. Although I often desire to live my life according to God’s purposes, I’m afraid to entrust everything about my life and my future plans to his guidance. (4, 5, 6)

I’m recognizing more than ever the importance of faith in God. My life is characterized by making decisions that will honor Him, and I try to prioritize my tasks and arrange my day around what will have eternal impact. I don’t have much anxiety, because I know that He controls everything, and He is arranging all things for my good. I know that my relationship with Him is based on the gift of His Son for me, rather than anything that I could do. Although I sometimes feel disappointed by the way that events turn out, I trust that God is still using them to accomplish His perfect purpose, and so I don’t find myself overly discouraged. I regularly give of my finances to my local church, because I view it as another way to advance God’s Kingdom, and because I trust that He will provide for my needs. The ‘problem of evil’ does not trouble me too much, because I know Biblical truth that explains it for me – though I still sometimes wrestle with God’s providence in specific situations. I’m generally submitted to God’s will for my life, although I sometimes wrestle with it. (7, 8, 9)

I find that it is easy to live by faith, because I’m so convinced that I live in a spiritual realm. I know that God’s Word is more accurate than all the things that I see around me, so I just do what He commands me, regardless of how ridiculous it may seem to unbelievers. I trust that if I obey Him, He will take care of everything else. When other people look at my life and think that maybe God ‘failed’ me, I know that He just hasn’t yet revealed all the details of His wonderful plan. For this reason, I’m not really bothered by what happens around me or to me, no matter how bad it may be. I have an implicit confidence that I am accepted by Him because I have placed my faith in his Son. I give regularly to my local church, as a means of blessing others and advancing God’s kingdom, and I also give generously and sacrificially to other individuals and ministries, because I sense that I am a steward of God’s resources. The problem of evil only points me closer to God as I remember his sovereignty over all things and his ability to use evil for good. My life is in God’s hands, and I’m willing to do or go however He directs. (10, 11, 12)

Evangelism and Missions

I rarely think about the need for other people to hear the gospel. I can’t remember the last time that I shared my faith. It doesn’t really bother me that there are people in the world who haven’t heard about Jesus. I know that I will never be a missionary, and I wouldn’t be willing to do it if God called me to it. (1, 2, 3)

I know that I should share my faith, and I try to do it sometimes, but I feel extremelly ill-prepared. Sometimes, when I read the Bible or go to church, I feel a momentary sense of wonder at God’s plans for the world, but it isn’t lasting. I think that missionary work is important, but I’m afraid of really considering it, because it would be far too much transition for my life. Sometimes, I’ll pray for believers in distant lands, but it isn’t very frequent. (4, 5, 6)

I feel personally responsible for sharing my faith with others. I do this regularly, and I generally feel comfortable doing it. I realize that God has a plan for all the nations of the world, and I’m excited by that plan. I occasionally read missionary biographies. Although not everyone is called to missions, I’ve seriously contemplated whether God would have me to be involved in them – and I’m obedient to what he would have me to do at present. I’m also willing to be sent, if He has not yet done so. I frequently remember believers in other lands, and I’ve gone on foreign mission trips because I want to be more involved. (7, 8, 9)

The idea of God’s glory being proclaimed throughout the nations is incredibly inspiring to me, and it frequently guides the decisions that I make. I realize that the Great Commission is the duty of the church, and for that reason, I make evangelism a priority. I share the gospel constantly with other people, and I’m constantly improving. I’m always open to going wherever God would have me, and I’m constantly evaluating my decisions in light of how they advance God’s Kingdom. I pray for his kingdom to come, and I can’t wait for the day when God is glorified by people of every ethnic background and geographic location. I love to interact with believers from different cultures and nations, and I’m welcoming to them, because they demonstrate more of God’s multi-cultural glory in the church. I keep up-to-date with missionaries in the field, and I find ways to encourage them. (10, 11, 12)

Scoring Your Assessment

0-24 – Your spiritual health is in trouble. You need help, and you probably know that. Thankfully, God accepts all who call on Him. It’s time to make dramatic changes to your spiritual life, and you need accountability. Recognize the danger that you are in and cry out to God for grace – because apart from His grace, you will continue to flounder. Repent of your spiritual apathy and seek accountability in a local, Bible-believing church.

25-48 – You are showing signs of spiritual life, and that is a reason to praise God. However, you clearly need to mature in your faith. Identify your weaknesses, recognize that it is God’s grace alone that can help you, then pursue God’s Word and accountability in a local church.

49-72 – It’s evident that God is working in you and maturing you. Continue to pursue Him through the spiritual disciplines that you have already cultivated (such as Bible reading, prayer, and the local church). Beware of thinking that any of your spiritual growth came down to you – it’s only the result of his grace, and you still have far to go.

73-96 – Your life shows the signs of God’s grace, and it’s evident that you have been walking with him for some time. Now, if ever, you should recognize how dependent you are on Him, and how helpless you are without him. Don’t assume that you are safe from danger – stay close to him, continue to seek him daily and fellowship with his people in the local church, and recognize that you can still grow vastly in your spiritual experience.

*The inspiration for this spiritual assessment came from Michael Hyatt’s LifeScore Assessment ™, which I came across years ago. Although his assessment has changed form over time, it’s a great tool that I’ve used to assess my overall well-being across a variety of life domains – and I would recommend it to anyone. To be clear, this assessment is in no way affiliated with either Michael Hyatt or his LifeScore Assessment ™.