Creating Spiritual Disciplines
 
"Superficiality is the curse of our age…. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people."
-Richard Foster, "Celebration of Discipline"
 
 
"The spiritual life is, first of all, a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived."
-Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
 
 
"Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing [themselves]."
--Leo Tolstoy
 
 
In this New Year, many of you might be thinking about making a resolution or goal oriented toward a spiritual discipline. This can be manifested in several different ways, something simple like praying every day or a challenge such as reading through the Bible.  
 
Spiritual disciplines are wonderful ways to help us live into our faith even more.  They help us to be more aware of how God is working in our lives, the lives of others and in the world that is around us. A spiritual discipline in and of itself does not produce change, but instead, it leads us to places where God can change us.
 
There are also dangers when doing a spiritual discipline: one of the most common ones is becoming too strict and legalistic about the discipline. This takes away the life-giving spiritual aspect and makes the discipline twisted and turned in on itself, which takes the blessing of the discipline away.
 
Some of the ways to help avoid this danger might be to consider putting “check-in” times throughout the year. These times help you to evaluate both where God has to lead you and if the discipline has become more of a burden than a blessing. 
 
If this is something that you decide to do this year, either by yourself or with a partner, consider asking God through the Holy Spirit to guide you to a discipline. Truly God is at work in our lives and can help to lead you to places God has in mind for us.
 
For more information, I would be happy to talk to you about spiritual disciplines. I would also recommend to you a classic book on this subject, “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard Foster.

Pastor Tim