Spiritual Exercises For Development
A large number of Christians live their entire lives and grow hardly any. They want to, but they either made an effort and gave up, or they were never shown that change was an important part of the Christians life. How have you heard somebody say, “I just struggle to stop…” These people are losing out on the full life that Christ produces.
So just how do we grow as Christians? Spiritual Disciplines.
Paul tellsTimothy to control him self for the purpose of godliness. If was effective for Timothy in the first century do you not assume it is beneficial for all of us?
One of the issues we have done as the church is place a lot of work into producing converts that we have devalued building disciples. Please don’tget me wrong me. I’m not saying that we should never work to bring in people to Christ. What I am expressing is once somone has made the decision to follow Christ, we should help themlearn to be a disciple of Christ likewise, and the spiritual disciplines are a great way to do that.
Another thing we do is, make spiritual disciplines some thing they aren’t. We emphasize prayer and bible study, however not fasting, service, or other diciplines. I have even had individuals convey to me that Jesus certainly never said anything about fasting or he did not practice solitude. A short reading through of the gospels will confirm that Jesus discussed fasting and exemplified solitude and service to many people.
We grow thru the use of the spiritual disciplines because they help us to place ourselves infront of God. Romans 12 says to show your body just like a living sacrifice and that is what discipline is about. When we eventually break free from ourselves and just turn our lives thoroughly over to God we will quickly realize the Holy Spirit starting to function inside us and change us into the persons God created us to be. The bible says over and over that God will provide us with what we all want if we have proper motives, and are actually searching for God’s will. I totally believe that his will is for you to realize him more and much better.
Do not presume this is a magic pill. You have devoted all your time up to this moment not giving yourself to him. Christ knows your heart and is aware of your purposes. The book of James say if you need wisdom then ask for it, and that is what we need. Ask for wisdom to know what God, the father is calling you to do with spiritual disciplines. Pray and ask for ideas as you set out to decide exactly where you are going and what you are doing. Pray and ask Jesus to help you open up and let him really have control.
