Becoming like Christ is not the same as becoming a better version of yourself …

Some of the most self-disciplined people in the world are also the most self-absorbed. It’s possible to live a life of relentless personal development and still be spiritually barren. A man can master his morning routine, conquer his calendar, and speak with polished emotional intelligence and still have a heart untouched by the Holy Spirit. He can learn to regulate his nervous system and still not know how to repent.

In a world saturated with podcasts, productivity hacks, mindset coaching, and best-selling books about self-actualization, it’s easy to confuse personal development with spiritual formation. But the two are not the same. One builds a stronger version of you. The other calls you to die.

Personal development has value, but it cannot transform your soul
At its core, personal development is about optimizing your potential. You set goals, track progress, eliminate distractions, and improve behaviors. Whether the goal is emotional health, physical fitness, financial growth, or cognitive performance, the central theme remains consistent: make you better.

Done wisely, it has value. Proverbs praises discipline and wisdom. There is benefit in managing your time, becoming emotionally aware, and developing resilience. In many cases, personal development helps remove obstacles that interfere with godly living. But it cannot replace spiritual formation. It cannot produce holiness. It does not form spiritual fruit. And it does not transform the inner person.

Paul warned Timothy of a type of person who would “… act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:5). Personal development can give the appearance of godliness, but without surrender to Christ, it is powerless to actually make a person godly. It improves the outer life. It cannot regenerate the soul.

Spiritual formation requires surrender and participation
Spiritual formation (or spiritual maturing) is not personal development. It is not a journey into the depths of your personality. It is not about becoming your best self. It is about becoming less, not more.

Jesus said, “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it,'” Luke 9:23–24.

There is nothing in that call that resembles a productivity seminar or coaching session. Spiritual maturity does not come through self-enhancement but self-denial. It’s not about aligning your goals with your values. It’s about crucifying your goals when they compete with the Spirit’s call.

But this doesn’t mean spiritual formation is passive. The Holy Spirit does the inner transforming, but we are called to cooperate. In 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul instructs us to “… train yourself to be godly.” Spiritual disciplines — prayer, fasting, worship, scripture, confession, service — are the means by which we yield to God and make space for His work. Still, the change is not from our effort but from the Holy Spirit. As Paul said, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy,” Ephesians 4:23–24.

One glorifies Christ, the other glorifies can glorify self
This is the irreconcilable difference: personal development is centered on you. Spiritual formation is centered on Christ. One pursues self-mastery as the goal; the other embraces dependence on Christ as the way. One says, “I can grow if I work hard enough.” The other says, “I cannot grow [mature] unless I abide in Him.”

Jesus made this clear when He said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing,” John 15:5.

Apart from Him, you can accomplish personal development, but you cannot bear fruit. You can increase discipline but not love. You can build habits but not holiness. You can boost confidence but not cultivate the character of Christ.

Spiritual maturity doesn’t make you impressive
A mature Christian doesn’t look like a personal development influencer. They are not always impressive. They may be quiet. They may be unknown. But they are steadfast, surrendered, and Spirit-filled. They are not chasing self-mastery. They are pursuing Jesus. And slowly — sometimes painfully — they are being changed into His likeness.

As Paul put it, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image,” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

If your goal is to grow in Christ, then you must resist the urge to build a shinier self. You are not being called to become the best version of you. You are being called to become less so that Christ can be seen more.

Scotty