Skip to main content

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


Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Right In Front of Me

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Glow Differently

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grits

This past Saturday I got the chance to catch up with my friend at breakfast. We connected months ago over grits, of all things. I learned he really didn't care for grits. Turns out his parents used to make him eat them quite often and in many forms. As he has grown older he's made the conscious decision, he's had enough grits for a lifetime. On the other hand, I really enjoy grits. They are a wonderful breakfast food with butter, salt, and pepper. For dinner, you can't beat some good shrimp and grits. I have a recipe for jambalaya grits that will put a smile on anyone's face. It is like jambalaya meets cheese grits. Yum! My friend and I joke about grits everytime we see each other. I offer him some and he politely refuses. Of course, I respect his wishes and don't give him any grits. How do you offer someone grits? Do you insist they eat and like them because you eat them? Do you put them on their plate anyway? Do you treat them differently bec...
Post a Comment
Read more