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Spiritual Discipline

Have you ever found yourself aimlessly perusing the internet or social media? Just the other day I was scrolling through Twitter looking at articles about Ukraine. As I read, I felt my heart beat increase. I could physically feel anxiety from what I was reading. 

It just so happened that I was doing this when I was supposed to be reading my devotional. In the morning I like to read a short devotional to get the day started. This particular day, however, I chose to see what was taking place in Ukraine. 

As I was hit with my anxious feelings, I drew back to one of my earlier writings titled “Wrong App.” However, this time I was moved differently. It made me reflect on the term spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines can be thought of as the practices we participate in that help us grow in our relationship with God. They include Bible reading, meditation and prayer, serving, worshiping together, and many others. 

Some use the term spiritual practices but I prefer spiritual disciplines. It reminds me that I have to be disciplined and intentional in my actions to do my part to build this friendship with my Jesus. Proverbs 29:17 says, "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire."

Discipline provides guidelines. As a friend stated, it is like guard rails on a road. If we lose focus and swerve off the road, it helps to push us back to the road. When we are disciplined in our focus driving we don't need the guardrails. We stay on the road because we are focused. Our relationship with Jesus is just the same. The spiritual disciplines push us back on track.

In the case of my experience reading Twitter about Ukraine when I was supposed to be with Jesus, I have to wonder if it was less of a lack of discipline and more of a product of spiritual discipline. Let me tell you what I mean by that. We have a short attention span in the US. News hits the airwaves at a pace like we've never seen before. It seems we have a propensity to shift from one emergency to the next without much delay.  

The prominent subject of my prayers in the last couple of weeks has been peace and specifically peace in the Ukraine. Through these prayers, God had revealed to me His peace transcends a battlefield or war. While I pray for a stop of battle and the saving of lives, I am reminded my prayers are too small. His peace transcends the dire times of our lives. His peace is greater than the circumstances which may seem so bleak and may seem like there is no hope. 

Just maybe, what I thought was a stray from my spiritual discipline was God reminding me of what true peace is. Maybe it was a reminder that the salvation He seeks through His Son is more than a human life. Maybe it was a reminder to remain in prayer, but pray bigger. Maybe it was a reminder that spiritual disciplines aren’t a routine or item on a “to do” list but have purpose for His kingdom. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt


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