Word of the Week - Spiritual Disciplines

Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and good judgement. Proverbs 23:23

Spiritual Disciplines Spiritual disciplines are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow and strengthen our spirit man allowing us to grow closer in relationship with God.  There are profound parallels between training the physical body and the spiritual soul.  Using the analogy – spiritual disciplines are ways for us to grow in spirit and expand the breadth of our inner life through structured workouts of the soul and spirit.  Some spiritual disciplines are personal inward exercises that are practiced alone while others require interpersonal relationship and are practiced in community.  I would like to be clear that I am not advocating religious activity or works to win God’s approval but simply proven daily practices that build godly strength and character and nurture relationship with the living God.  As Christians we know that salvation is received by grace alone, the spiritual disciplines are not a way to earn ones way to heaven, but rather are the means by which to put oneself in position to more fully receive God’s grace.Some of the tried and true disciplines of the Christian faith include:  reading the bible, prayer, meditation, fasting, simplicity, fellowship, journaling, chastity, stewardship, obedience/submission, study, evangelism, contemplation, confession, solitude, gratitude, self-examination, silence and celebrationQuestions and principals of spiritual disciplines:

• Are spiritual disciplines for everyone – If you desire to have a deeper, richer inner life and grow closer to God, then spiritual disciplines are for you.  We all desire to have more peace and enjoy the fruits of God’s spirit (Joy, Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control).  I believe, and have personally experienced, that we receive the fruits of God’s spirit as a biproduct of abiding in Christ through a real and engaged relationship.  Spiritual disciplines are simply the things/activities we can do to pursue relating with God.  If we truly love the Lord then we will want to actively engage with Him daily.  “Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all of your mind”” Matthew 22:37
• What can we expect if we faithfully walk out spiritual disciplines in our lives – First and foremost, we should expect to have a more rich and deep relationship with the Lord and experience the fruit of this relationship as noted above.  Secondly, there are many benefits that come over time as a result to include:  Hearing God’s voice more often, making better decisions, experiencing inner peace, being less impacted by external circumstances, being able to stand with moral courage, being able to persevere through hardships, overcoming character flaws and the list goes on…..  This is the process of sanctification that we experience when we actually walk out our faith through spiritual disciplines.  “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
• Shouldn’t spirituality be spontaneous – Many believe that our relationship with God should be more organic and spontaneous and not relegated to a list of to-dos.  I would agree, and suggest that if we truly desire to know God and walk in relationship with Him, we must approach Him with the right heart perspective.  Similar to the marriage analogy, if I am going on dates with my wife to simply check the box and my heart is not in the relationship then I will be going through the motions and this is not very fruitful.  This can be likened to dead religion.  That being said, we generally demonstrate what is important to us by how we prioritize.  The first part of a healthy relationship is showing up, which puts us in position to experience organic spontaneous relationship with our spouse in a marriage relationship.  Similarly, showing up and pursuing God on a frequent and consistent basis puts us in position to experience whatever He has in store for us.  We must consistently be available and seeking.  God loves it when we earnestly pursue Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart” Jeremiah 29:13
• We find true freedom through disciplines – The fact of the matter is that discipline is the only way to freedom.  Spirituality without discipline can become confusing and move in hapless fits and starts; it can be sporadic and dependent upon our ever changing and less than dependable feelings, moods and external circumstances.  Faith without discipline requires less effort but also typically produces less fruit.  Similar to faith without works.  For our spirit man to strengthen, it has to be trained in a consistent and deliberate way.  Just like our physical muscles need healthy exercise and resistance, our spirit man needs to be trained and strained to grow and strengthen.  This is not a spectator sport, we have to be in the game getting reps. As we gain strength in our spirit we find amazing freedom from the things that used to hold us down.  If you really want to possess power, if you really want to be free then you need structure and discipline this is the paradox of our faith. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1

Spiritual discipline help us develop our spiritual muscles and reflexes of the soul so we are equipped for times of trial and crisis, because they are coming.  We all know the practical value of discipline in our lives and typically apply it to other areas such as work, sports and physical fitness but it seems like few people see the need to apply it to their spiritual health and wellness. You may have never thought about disciplining yourself spiritually, but the same principles that underlie other life pursuits also apply to your spirit/soul.  As Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 24-27 below, as if we are training like professional athletes, so I encourage you to engage in daily and consistent spiritual disciplines of faith and see how God uses these things to bless you and produce spiritual fruit in your life, fruit that will last for eternity.^“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.  No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified for the prize”. 1 Corinthians 24-27 Have a great week,-Duane