Jimbo's Jots

In my counseling world, I will sometimes challenge clients to develop personal growth model based on the acronym PISCES. In this model, they are challenged to set growth goals in 6 areas of their life. Here are the six: P-Personal, I-Intellectual, S-Social, C-Creativity, E-Emotional, S-Spiritual. Goals and a target date to measure progress and growth are set.

I recently came across a different kind of model using the same acronym. At the Plymouth church, we are going through a series about spiritual disciplines. It reminded me of this PISCES spiritual growth model.

The PISCES model—Prayer, Insight, Scripture, Community, Experience, Surrender—offers a pathway toward spiritual and personal maturity. Rooted in biblical principles, this model helps align our lives more closely with God’s purpose and presence.

In a world constantly calling us to do more, be more, and achieve more, the Christian walk invites us into something different—to be transformed, not conformed (Romans 12:2). True growth doesn’t just come from self-help strategies or motivational quotes, but through a deep relationship with Christ and intentional practices that shape us from the inside out. Let’s explore each step of the PISCES model through the lens of Scripture:

P – Prayer: Seeking God’s Voice First

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6

Prayer is our first step toward growth because it centers our hearts on God. Growth begins not with striving, but with surrendering space to listen. In prayer, we cultivate intimacy with the One who knows us best. It’s where transformation begins—in stillness, in dependence, in the quiet conversations between us and God.

🟢 Growth Tip: Start your day with 5–10 minutes of silent prayer. Let it become a rhythm that shapes your choices and reflections throughout the day.

I – Insight: Understanding Ourselves and God’s Work in Us

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” – Psalm 139:23

Insight comes as we ask God to reveal what’s beneath the surface—our motivations, fears, wounds, and hopes. Growth requires self-awareness, but not the kind that turns inward in despair. It’s insight guided by the Spirit that leads to healing and wisdom. We grow when we can name where we are so we can move toward where God is calling us.

🟢 Growth Tip: Journal about your current season. Ask: What is God teaching me through this? What patterns or responses need to be re-examined?

S – Scripture: The Foundation of Transformation

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

God’s Word is not just information—it’s revelation. Scripture helps us see ourselves clearly and directs us back to the heart of God. It anchors us when emotions shift and circumstances shake. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s truth, the more we are reshaped into His image.

🟢 Growth Tip: Choose a short book of the Bible (like James or Philippians) to read slowly, meditating on one passage each day.

C – Community: Growing Together in Christ

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

Personal growth isn’t a solo endeavor. We need spiritual friendships, accountability, and the voices of others to encourage, challenge, and guide us. The early church thrived in community, breaking bread, sharing burdens, and learning together (Acts 2:42–47). God uses others to refine and reveal parts of us we might never see alone.

🟢 Growth Tip: Join a small group or mentorship relationship. Share your journey, ask hard questions, and be open to loving feedback.

E – Experience: Letting Life Be Your Classroom

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” – Romans 8:28

Growth doesn’t happen in theory—it happens in life. Every challenge, disappointment, victory, and mundane moment is an opportunity to learn and lean into God. The experiences that stretch us often shape us most. Nothing is wasted in God’s hands.

🟢 Growth Tip: Reflect weekly on your lived experiences. Where did you see God? What surprised you? What might He be inviting you to learn?

S – Surrender: Trusting God with the Outcome

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” – Proverbs 3:5-6

The final step in growth is not achievement—it’s surrender. Growth is not always visible or immediate, but God calls us to trust His process. Surrender means releasing control and allowing God to do the deep, often unseen work in our souls. It’s a daily decision to follow even when we don’t understand.

🟢 Growth Tip: End your day with a simple surrender prayer: “God, I give you what I cannot control. Grow in me what I cannot grow in myself.”

The PISCES model reminds us that growth is not a straight line—it’s a spiraling journey of prayerful reflection, community encouragement, scriptural truth, and daily surrender. As Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, so we also pray:

“…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17,19)

Growth is possible—when we let God lead.

Be blessed in your growing! Be a blessing to others as they grow!