Different Spiritual Disciplines:

I really love to run.  I love to do races, and I love to get a good mile run outside.  I also really love to exercise in general, though, and as I have grown older and older, I do enjoy general exercise more and more.  I enjoy going to work out classes and getting to build a community within that space.  I have been very encouraged in the last few years that I have grown both more confident as well as faster in my running.  This last weekend, I finished my fourth half marathon, and it was the fastest time I had ever had when competing in a half marathon.  

I do definitely think one of the main reasons I am running faster is because I have been better at cross training.  I enjoy spending time lifting weights and getting stronger, not just in my legs but all over my body.  I have added more workouts to my arms and to my abs.  I also do just general cardio.  I am not pounding my body with running day after day.  I am not saying it is wrong to do this, but I have found I have grown through this cross-training regimen.  Orthoinfo online discussed the main positives of cross training which is that it gives one’s muscles a chance to adapt quicker to different exercises, and it prevents injury because one is working different muscle groups while the other muscle groups have the chance to rest.  

I believe this can relate to our Christian walk as well.  There are many different ways and “exercises” if you will, to grow closer to God and show love and worship to him.  There are many spiritual disciplines that help strengthen us.  There is prayer as a way to find community and conversation with God.  Prayer is a reminder we are in a relationship with God.  This is the chance to talk to him and go to him about our concerns and our joys and our gratefulness.   Then there is Bible reading which is getting to understand God’s law and therefore his Gospel. There is spending time listening and speaking with other believers in fellowship, so iron can sharpen iron.  Then there is meditating and memorizing verses in order to focus on key passages in the Bible.  Through the Christian walk, there is a surplus of opportunity to get to know God and to grow in our personal righteousness through him.  

It is a good reminder to focus on all the different spiritual disciplines because it is a way to strengthen us in all the different ways there are.  If a person just prays, then they won’t get the chance to read the words God has written to his people long ago. If a person just reads the Bible, and never studies or memorizes it, then they may not understand God’s Word intimately.  If a person on the opposite side is studious in reading the Bible, but never spends time praying, then they may never get a good conversation with God.  If someone never spends time with another believer in fellowship, how will that person get the chance to love like our Father in heaven to one’s brothers and sisters in Christ as well as learn different thoughts and perspectives. Each discipline has its reasons and importance.  (Christian authors are another one.  It is good to hear perspectives from different Christian authors.  I really enjoy certain Christian authors such as Lisa Terkeurst and John Piper.  However, I have recently been reading books from other Christian authors, so I can receive a different message from a different fellow believer.)  

Timothy brings this up in his letter in 1 Timothy.  He writes about the requirements of being a good servant of Jesus Christ.  This is stated in chapter 4, verses 6-8 

“If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching you have followed. But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths.  Rather, train yourself in godliness.  For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”  

Timothy wanted the followers he was speaking with, to be well versed from their teachings and their readings, so they could easier teach others.  Through this training, it would help these people get more prepared for the future world.  This required all kinds of training.  These leaders were going to face many trials, so they had to be strong in every area of the Christian faith.  

My challenge for you this week is to think of the spiritual discipline in your life that has been lacking. Then think about how you can best start to include it in your life the following week. I definitely believe I could grow in talking with others about Jesus as well as spending time in worship.  I enjoy spending time growing my personal relationship with God, minus spending time in worship.  When I say worship here, I am personally referring to spending time listening to holy music and singing God praises.  Then while, again, I do really enjoy spending time growing closer to God, I do not always do the best job speaking to others about God and how much love he has for them.