Like physical exercises, spiritual discipline takes effort. We need to be intentional about our spiritual life, and that is why we need to practice some disciplines.
Spiritual disciplines do not only enhance your spiritual life, but they also advance the kingdom of God. (1Timothy 4:8)
What Are Spiritual Disciplines?
These are things we do daily for our spiritual growth. They are those small practices Christians do regularly so that they can become more intimate with God.
It is better to start small to avoid discouragement. For example, you don’t need to read a whole chapter of the Bible in one sitting when you barely read a verse each day. Start small by reading a verse a day or spend ten minutes in Bible study instead of an hour.
Starting small helps you to avoid overwhelm.
Study And Meditate On The Word Of God
Eating healthy food is essential for our physical growth, right? In the same way, feeding our souls with the word of God is essential for our spiritual growth.
The word of God shapes our thinking. It is hard to have fulfilling Christian lives if we do not know how to go about it. The word of God helps us to understand why we were created and who God is. (Romans 12:2)
Studying and meditating on the word of God will help you to grow spiritually as you will know who you are in Christ.
Prayer and Fast
Let’s be honest.
Prayer and fasting are two disciplines that most of us struggle with. But even though we find them hard to do, we need to practice them.
Our Lord Jesus said, “when you fast,’ meaning it is not something we choose to do, it’s something we ought to do as Children of God. (Matthew 6:16-18)
Prayer and fasting are ways of us, acknowledging that we cannot, but God can. It is a way of saying that God is greater than everything, and we love him more than we love ourselves.
There are different ways that you can pray, and fast, you do not have to copy your friend who prays for one hour or fasts for 40 days. Go to God and ask him to show you how to pray and fast.
Serve Others
Let’s be honest; it is becoming hard to serve others because people are becoming lovers of themselves instead of God. Today, people will go around social media, showing off how they helped others.
But here’s the thing we cannot live like the people of this world. We need to serve others and do it the right way, not as unto man but as unto God.
When you help, others do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3)
Be Grateful
Maintaining a thankful heart is very hard in this world. With so many challenges that we face, it is easier to complain than to be thankful. But the word of God tells us to rejoice always, and that means we need to be thankful. (Philippians 4:4)
You need to practice gratitude not because you feel like it, but because you are walking in obedience. Thank God when things are great, and when things are difficult. Thank him when things make sense and when they do not.
In short:
Spiritual disciplines are not meant to make us feel like failures. They are meant to help us experience growth.
For you to practice, the spiritual disciplines consistently start small and then build them into habits.
