A spiritual writer has suggested that "spirituality" contains three different elements: spirituality is a way of speaking about God; spirituality is a way of getting close to God; spirituality will eventually bring together those who practice it so that they form some kind of "spiritual family", whether a religious community or a lay community. Theology is also a way of speaking about God but it is based on the word of God, revelation, whereas spirituality is a way of speaking about God based on experience.

If we wish to understand the spirituality which sustained the Jewish people in Old Testament times, we will generally find that the Psalms provide us with great and consoling insights.

As a way of speaking about God, spirituality will also be practiced or lived out. Psalm 144 provides a good example of this "speaking about God". We do not know what spiritual experience the author had, but for some reason he felt compelled to glorify God's name, not only for a short period or once in a while but "for ever", "day after day". It was obviously a profound experience of God's goodness and love. We are enlightened and strongly consoled by his affirmations that God is kind, compassionate, abounding in love.