For centuries, philosophers and psychologists have studied personality types. One of the most widely used and tested personality assessment instrument is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI categorizes human personalities in four pairs of preferences that offer sixteen combinations. The four pairs answer the following questions.

• Where does one focus attention?
  Extroversion (E) - Introversion (I)
• How does one take in information?
  Sensing (S) - Intuition (N)
• How does one make decisions?
  Thinking (T) - Feeling (F)
• How does one deal with the world?
  Judging (J) - Perceiving (P)

The MBTI and other personality instruments can help us Christians understand our strengths and weaknesses. They can give us insights into how we might better respond to God’s working in our lives. Rather than relying on a generic model of spiritual training, the MBTI allows us to structure patterns of spiritual formation suited to people’s unique personalities and temperaments.

For example, extroverts flourish through lively interaction with other Christians. Introverts most comfortably relate to God through quiet reflection. Thinkers find spiritual stimulation in theological studies. Feeling types find emotionally uplifting praise music more to their liking. We tend to live out the faith through the grid of our temperamental comfort zone.

The greatest potential for growth, however, will come through the less preferred or weaker function, although overcoming the inertia of habit may be difficult. Jesus said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind” (Luke 10:27)–that is, with every God created capacity.

High-energy extroverts find new potential for growth by practicing the disciplines of biblical meditation, contemplation, and journaling. Introverts find new spiritual resources through inter-personal relationships and engaging in group experiences. Sensates develop repressed intuition through the practice of contemplative prayer or by listening to others more sensitively. Intuiting types grow by being attentive to God’s ways in nature and history. They are enriched by drawing on all their God-given senses in worship.

Thinking types grow the heart by disciplines that stir the emotions and draw out feelings. Such might include meditating on the beauty of creation, praying the psalms, or imaginative reflection on biblical stories, such as the prodigal son or the lost sheep. Thinkers become more adaptable by exploring a variety of worship experiences (sacramental, liturgical, and contemplative). Feeling types grow as they use their minds more creatively by formulating their biblical world-and-life view. Judging types grow as they seek variety in their spiritual experiences. They should be more spacious to the unexpected workings of Providence. Perceivers do well to take a more disciplined approach to spiritual formation.

When I consider the uniqueness and complexity of each human being, I recall the words of the psalmist: “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous” (Psalm 139:14).

Extended quote taken from Satisfy Your Soul by Dr. Bruce DeMarest. Pages 182-183.