In Romans 7:15, the Apostle Paul expresses a familiar struggle: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
This tension—between our best intentions and what we end up doing—can feel like a constant drag on our spiritual growth. We long to live out the virtues we admire, but often find ourselves falling short.
If we’re honest, this struggle can be discouraging. But rather than allowing it to overwhelm us, there are methods and practices that can help bridge the gap between our intentions and the lived values of the Kingdom of God.
The good news is that humans have been striving for growth in every area of life throughout all our history. So, we have a rich well of methods to borrow from, and one of these methods comes from the medical community. Medical students are trained through surgical preparation strategy known as—watch, do, and teach. The idea is that before surgeons are fit to perform surgery, they must go through a learning process that is designed to take head we can apply a similar framework to our spiritual lives. By integrating these steps into our daily routines, we can make real progress in becoming the people we long to be.
Watch
The first step is to watch. Think about the people, stories, or teachings that inspire you. Who are the individuals whose lives reflect the virtues you admire? Perhaps it’s someone in your community, a historical figure, or even a character from a book. These are the people we should keep our eyes on, learning from their examples and drawing inspiration from their lives.
One of the most powerful ways to feed your spirit is through the stories of those who have gone before us. Whether it’s a biography of a faithful Christian, a story of redemption, or a parable from Scripture, these narratives can wake up your heart and fuel your desire to grow. Revelation 12:11 reminds us that we overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of [our] testimony.” The stories of others’ faith and perseverance can give us the courage to face our own challenges.
So, make it a habit to read, study, listen, and watch. Dive into Scripture, listen to sermons, read books, and immerse yourself in content that nourishes your soul. This is not just about consuming information, but about being deeply moved and inspired to change.
Do
Next, we must do something. It’s one thing to be inspired by the stories of others; it’s another to put what we’ve learned into practice. There’s a fascinating study from 1917 that tested school children by having them read biographies and then quizzing them on what they had learned. One group of students read and re-read the biographies repeatedly to prepare for the final test. The other group read the biography only once but tested themselves multiple times to prepare for the final test. The group that activated their learning through testing were the ones who scored the highest of the final test. When the students tested their knowledge, they were ready to perform when it counted better than the students who had only filled their minds with information alone. In other words, practice makes permanent.
This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well. What we practice, we solidify. The more we put our faith into action, the more it becomes a natural part of who we are. It’s not about perfection, but about progress. Each time we choose to do the right thing—whether it’s being patient with a difficult coworker, offering kindness to a stranger, or setting aside time for prayer—we are reinforcing those virtues in our lives.
The key here is consistency. Small, daily actions can lead to significant spiritual growth over time. Don’t underestimate the power of simple, repeated efforts. Just like an athlete train daily to improve their performance, we too must continually practice living out our faith.
Teach
Finally, we are called to teach. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 instructs us to “go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Teaching isn’t just about standing in front of a classroom; it’s about sharing the lifestyle of following Jesus with others.
Who in your life can you teach? Perhaps it’s your family, friends, or coworkers. Teaching can happen in the everyday moments—through conversations, by modeling Christ-like behavior, or by offering a listening ear. You don’t need a formal setting to teach; your life is the classroom.
When we teach, we reinforce our own understanding and commitment. It’s a cycle: we watch and learn, we do and practice, and then we teach, which in turn deepens our own spiritual maturity. The act of teaching also holds us accountable. It’s hard to tell others about the importance of love, patience, and humility if we’re not striving to live out those values ourselves.
Conclusion
In a world that often pulls us in a thousand different directions, we need a method to keep us grounded and focused on what truly matters. By adopting the Watch, Do, Teach method, we can make tangible progress in our spiritual growth. This approach helps us move from simply wanting to live virtuously to actually doing so.
Remember, spiritual growth isn’t about giant leaps, but about taking one small, faithful step after another. As we watch those who inspire us, do what we know is right, and teach others along the way, we will find ourselves slowly but surely becoming the people we most want to be—people who not only preach the gospel but live it out every day.
