It Starts Small

Once we trust Jesus Christ as the foundation of our lives, there is work to do! Spiritual disciplines were never meant to be confined to seminaries. They are dispensable to every Christian’s spiritual upkeep.

⁷ But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness. 1 Timothy 4:7

I believe we get this idea we can not have depth to our relationship with God unless we carry some sort of certificate of seminary completion. Paul wrote, “train yourself in godliness.” Healthy practice of spiritual discipline avoids both the legalistic and manipulative approaches. Spiritual discipline are an overflow response to God’s expectations and provisions. They are a means that God uses to produce godliness in us. Seminaries are a great tool, but they can not replace a personal relationship with God or personal experience with God. There are several ways to categorize spiritual disciplines:

Discipline of Alignment: which deal with the familiarity with and obedience to scripture – reading, hearing, meditating on, studying, and memorizing scripture.

Discipline of Attachment: positive actions that orientate us to the love of God – worship, thanksgiving, and supplication.

Discipline of Detachment: drawing ourselves away from the world, the flesh, and Satan – silence, solitude, and sacrifice.

Discipline of Engagement: rightly living in the world – serving our families, churches, and societies.

The habits listed above are meant to help us prevent structural damage to our foundations. They help us to withstand the enemy’s attempts to move us off the Rock foundation, which is Jesus, and keep a sure footing. This helps us keep our sole’s passion in life. From our passion flows everything.

As we continue a long journey of discipleship, we look to God’s Word in each of these areas to grow in strength through truth. The more we allow God’s transformation in our heart, the harder these truths will be written and to more our passion focuses on Him and less on ourselves.

As you look at the list above, what areas of discipline do you need God’s help with?

⁶ So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, ⁷ being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7

²⁴ Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. ²⁵ Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. ²⁶ So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. ²⁷ Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Further Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-26

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Part 1: Passions: What are you willing to die for?
Part 2: Building Foundations
Part 3: Building your Life
Part 4: Love – the Soul’s Passion
Part 5: Work to Do!