Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

How did men like Edwards and Whitefield become so unusually conformed to the image of Christ? Part of their secret was their use of the Spiritual Discipline of journaling to maintain self-accountability for their spiritual goals and priorities. Before we give all the reasons why we cannot be as godly as they were, let us first try doing what they d

A year before he died, Maravich said in an interview, The key to my ability was repetition. I practiced and practiced and practiced again. I gave the sport my total commitment. I tried everything I could in every way I could to perfect my skills. It was like an obsession. It paid off for me as a player. I’m not so sure in life. If I had given that

But these two things are clear: (1) the Holy Spirit will be ever faithful to help each of God’s elect to persevere to the end in those things that will make us like Christ, and (2) we must not harden our hearts, but instead respond to His promptings if we would be godly.

Would you be godly? There’s no other way but through the Spiritual Disciplines. The scriptural path to godliness has been made plain. Would you be godly? Then, said the Lord in 1 Timothy 4:7, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (NASB). That is the way and there is no other.

Would you be godly? Then practice the Spiritual Disciplines in light of eternity. I read of a man who would pray: “Oh, God, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!” Imagine how differently we would spend our time and make choices in life if we saw everything from the perspective of eternity. So much that seems critical would suddenly become trivial. And man

In The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges concurs: A major temptation in the self-discipline approach to holiness, however, is to rely on a regiment of spiritual disciplines instead of on the Holy Spirit. I believe in spiritual disciplines. I seek to practice them. . . . But those disciplines are not the source of our spiritual strength. The Lord J

This is trenchant New Testament teaching. It warns us of the world, the flesh, and the Devil and how they constantly war against us. The Bible says that because of this triumvirate of opposition we will experience a struggle to overcome sin as long as we live in this body.

But if you desire to be godly, you must face the fact that you will always be busy. To do what God wants most, that is, to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself (see Mark 12:29-31), can’t be done in your spare time. Loving God and others in word and in deed will result in a busy life.

The fact of the matter is that discipline is the only way to freedom; it is the necessary context for spontaneity.[10]