LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
CHMN 699
Internship
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Personal Development Plan
Personal growth and self-development are two integral parts of the life of a
modern person. In order to succeed in today’s hectic and ever-changing environment,
each individual has to overcome challenges and achieve new accomplishments
constantly. According to Pirilä, personal development comprises multiple aspects, such
as “growth as a conscious human being, activities that improve self-knowledge and
identity, development of talents and potential, … building of human capital and
employability, enhancing the quality of life” and many others.
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In other words, this
term is not limited to self-development but covers a wide range of activities, methods,
tools, techniques, and approaches to support human development and promote a happy
and fulfilled life for everyone. Spirituality and faith play an essential role in defining
one's perspectives and connection to the world, as well as future goals and aspirations.
As a Christian, I believe that a personal development plan allows every individual to
improve their personal skills while also supporting others and contributing to the world.
The purpose of this paper is to present my personal development plan focusing on the
areas of spiritual disciplines, personal finances, and continuing education.
Coming from a christian family, I think of myself as a spiritual person. Religion
has been an important part of my life since my early years. As a result, spirituality is
one of the cornerstone values that guide me in my experiences and aspirations.
Furthermore, coaching and reading help me in identifying the main objectives and the
plan for my future growth. In particular, I learned to be more open to diverse ideas and
opinions since there is always something new to explore and expand my horizons.
Researching on various subjects with regard to personal development allows me to find
1
. Hannu Pirilä, The Little Book of Personal Development, Success and
Happiness (Norderstedt: Books on Demand, 2020) 12.
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techniques and methods to implement in my own life to feel fulfilled and grateful.
Spiritual approach and coaching help me find purpose and focus on becoming the best
version of myself.
The connection to God is essential for me to improve my quality of life and
realize my aspirations. The Scripture teaches us the role of the Father, who acts as the
soil providing nutrients to the tree. This idea is supported by the following statements
made by Jesus Christ: “I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my
judgment is righteous because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father
who sent me” (John 15:2). It promotes the principle of relation to the Almighty since it
is critical for every Christian to be connected to the Father. Growth is an integral part
of this connection as it derives from the creating purposes of God.
Areas Of Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines are essential to incorporate in my personal development plan
as they promote self-growth and are prescribed for every believer. The Scripture
mentions various examples of activities one can practice to experience God and grow.
In particular, Biblical study, prayer, worship, meditation, fasting, confession, fellowship,
stewardship, and service are the spiritual disciplines mentioned in the Bible. In this
regard, I have incorporated some of them in my personal development plan to stay
disciplined and benefit from the mindless approach.
Biblical Study
I consider the study of God’s word one of the crucial spiritual disciplines to
incorporate in my personal development plan. The Bible prescribes it as an integral way
of understanding the Lord and his purposes and intentions with humanity. During one
of my previous assignments, I spent a while studying the Scripture to explore God’s
doctrine through his wrath and love. It is worth noting that while the Bible leaves
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many matters up to one’s interpretation, which implies that studying and rediscovering
it can improve my understanding of God and his will.
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The most important theological
concepts are rooted in God’s word, which is partially embodied in Jesus. He knew the
Scripture and could quote it from memory (Luke 4:1-13). As can be seen, it is critical
to read the Bible and incorporate it into the Christian routine. I included this spiritual
discipline in my personal development plan because I believe it can help me to inform
other activities aiming to improve my personal growth and connection to God. The
essential aspect about it is remaining consistent, sticking to the routine, and being
mindful in order to grow spiritually.
Prayer
Prayer is another spiritual discipline that I find necessary to include in my plan.
It is a practice that allows believers to speak to God and be heard. Similarly, Jesus can
be viewed as the role model in terms of prayer as he warned people against hypocrisy
and arrogance while talking to the Lord (Matt. 6:5-6). Having faith is critical for
effective prayer, and God acts as a loving father presenting gifts to his asking children
if this practice is implemented in a proper way. Being devotional is a useful habit that
can transform a person through spirituality. Praying humbly is one of the ways to
receive God’s answers and improve one’s life. While there is a public prayer, Jesus
frequently avoided the crowds and sought silence and solitude to focus on his talk to
the Father (Matt. 14:23). I incorporated this spiritual discipline in my personal
development plan as an effective means of clearing my mind, practicing gratitude, and
finding consolation and peace throughout my daily routine.
2
. Richard Blackaby and Bob Royall, Spiritual Leadership Coaching: Connecting
People to God's Heart and Purposes (Jonesboro, GA: Blackaby Ministries International,
2018) 15.
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Meditation
Meditation is another spiritual discipline that is typically viewed as a relatively
modern practice. At the same time, Christians can improve their spiritual level by
meditating on the Scripture and practicing mindfulness. Such activity can bring joy,
blessing, and spiritual growth.
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In addition to reading the Bible, it is essential to
meditate on it in a meaningful way to keep the Lord’s will and purposes in mind.
Aligning one’s life and activities with God’s task is one of the responsibilities of every
Christian. This fact explains why I integrated spiritual practice into my regular routine.
In other words, meditating refers to active thinking and pursuing insight. In this regard,
studying God’s word is helpful as it provides a foundation for a better understanding of
his will and, thus, focusing on serving it. Other positive effects of meditation include a
feeling of love and peace which follow the connection to the higher power, the Lord.
Personal Finances
In addition to mindful practices, the subject of personal finances can be viewed
from a spiritual perspective. In particular, when planning for my self-growth, I
identified the following questions to ask myself and guide my future development:
Am I living in accordance with my means?
Am I spending wisely and saving for the future?
Am I giving back and support others to worship God and his blessings?
In my view, these questions are essential to be answered in order to practice a
mindful and grateful approach to personal finance management. As stated by Berry, this
tactic can contribute to “a lifestyle of greater financial wellness, mindful spending, and
3
. Simon L. Dolan, The Secret of Coaching and Leading by Values: How to
Ensure Alignment and Proper Realignment (Abingdon: Routledge, 2020) 38.
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a sense of faith in … financial life” resulting from a spiritual approach.
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I believe that
it is essential to know how to manage money effectively, and the book by Berry
provided me with tools and techniques to connect faith and personal finance.
Continuing Education
Education is another subject that I accounted for in my personal development
plan since it is a life-long experience and a prerequisite for growth. I must say that my
path of obtaining education has taught me numerous skills, among which
communication, responsibility, problem-solving, creative thinking, tolerance, and giving
back to the community. I decided to obtain a Master of Divinity and Theology degree
in order to improve my understanding of faith and religion. The academic field
provides me with an opportunity to learn more about various perspectives on Christian
doctrines. In particular, during research, I read materials written by both religious and
non-religious authors, which allows me to form an independent opinion on different
aspects of faith-related subjects. As part of my personal development plan, I intend to
continue with my studies and pursue a Ph.D. degree in Theology to become a qualified
theologian.
To summarize, my personal development plan is centered around the idea of
self-growth and spirituality incorporated in daily practice and future objectives. In
particular, I identified the study of God's word, prayer, and meditation as spiritual
disciplines to employ and researched on personal finance management techniques to
implement in my life. Relevant literature, the Scripture, and individual coaching have
helped me in developing the plan by providing me with the necessary knowledge and
methods to grow as a Christian.
4
. Sadahri Berry, For the Love of Money: Navigating Personal Finances with
Stewardship and Faith (Portland, OR: BookBaby, 2020) 5.
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Bibliography
Berry, Sadahri. For the Love of Money: Navigating Personal Finances with Stewardship
and Faith. Portland: BookBaby, 2020.
Blackaby, Richard, and Bob Royall. Spiritual Leadership Coaching: Connecting People
to God's Heart and Purposes. Jonesboro: Blackaby Ministries International, 2018.
Dolan, Simon L. The Secret of Coaching and Leading by Values: How to Ensure
Alignment and Proper Realignment. Abingdon: Routledge, 2020.
Pirilä, Hannu. The Little Book of Personal Development, Success and Happiness.
Norderstedt: Books on Demand, 2020.
