Celebration of Discipline, Special Anniversary Edition: The Path to Spiritual Growth

One of the clearest statements is Romans 5:17, “. . . those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness [shall] reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ [italics added].”

When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God’s work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight.

The Bible pray-ers prayed as if their prayers could and would make an objective difference.

God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us.

Another form of meditation is what the contemplatives of the Middle Ages called “re-collection,” and what the Quakers have often called “centering down.”

A third kind of contemplative prayer is meditation upon the creation.

the meditation upon Scripture, is the central reference point by which all other forms of meditation are kept in proper perspective.

Concentration is the second step in study. If, in addition to bringing the mind repeatedly to the subject matter, the person will concentrate on what is being studied, learning is vastly increased.

“palms down, palms up.” Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God.