spiritual disciplines
This is The Way – Devo Day 41
The Disciplines of Fasting and Chastity Fasting in the World Today Mardi Gras celebrations are over and the season of Lent has begun for Catholics around the world. During this season they will modify their normal diet for religious reasons. Many religions and spiritual philosophies practice fasting in some form (including Judaism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Isalm, Taoism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Christianity). Fasting is often associated with the season of Lent for Catholics or the season of Ramadan for Muslims; however, many…
This is The Way – Devo Day 35
The Discipline of Journaling Many have found that keeping a journal helps them better understand their process of spiritual formation superintended by the Holy Spirit. By recording your interactions with the Word of God, your feelings and insights from the stream of your life, and your God sightings (in nature, in people, in circumstances) you’ll have a chronicling of your spiritual development. Journaling is not just an introspective exercise, it is also a method of keeping track of what the…
This is The Way – Devo Day 32
The Discipline of Prayer Prayer is a vital and unique relational dimension of the Christian faith. God created us to enjoy a personal relationship with Him, and prayer is that personal dialogue with the living God. Seen from a Biblical perspective, prayer is a privileged opportunity, not a duty to discharge. Prayer is the meeting place where we draw close to God, to be with Him, to enjoy Him, to receive from Him, to release our burdens and fears, and…
This is The Way – Devo Day 29
The Disciplines of Solitude and Silence This was one of the surprise golden nuggets that I discovered while I was at seminary and went on two retreats to a Trappist monastery in southern Missouri. I’d like to say that I learned some amazing spiritual insights from the monks or that God revealed a cosmic mystery to me but what I found there was me. I can honestly say, “I didn’t know myself very well.” I know that sounds stupid for…
This is The Way – Devo Day 26
The Extremes of Spiritual Development It’s easy to slip into the extremes of spiritual development. The first extreme overemphasizes our role and minimizes God’s role. This position is characterized by the mentality of striving and living for Christ. It emphasizes knowledge, rules, rededication efforts, and human activity, and it undervalues the work of the Holy Spirit. The second extreme (the opposite of the first) overemphasizes God’s role and minimizes our role. This position is characterized by a let-go-and-let-God passivity. It…
This is The Way – Devo Day 23
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.…