Practicing The Way: Spiritual Disciplines

This week we continued in our series Practicing the Way, getting really practical and looking at the nine classical spiritual disciplines (or practices):

Sabbath

Prayer

Fasting

Solitude

Generosity

Scripture

Community

Service

Witness

We were reminded again that we are formed by so many things unintentionally, but as followers of Jesus, we look to the life of Jesus for our daily practices. Mark 1:35 tells us that “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

Spiritual practices, like those that Jesus demonstrated, are key to our own spiritual formation. They are how we do what we can do in order to make space for God to transform us into the kind of people who can do what we currently cannot do—live and love like Jesus. These practices help slow us down to the pace and presence of the God of peace.

There are also three important things to remember when diving into spiritual practices. First, spiritual practices are not a measure of spiritual maturity. Love is. Second, practicing spiritual disciplines are not a form of spiritual merit—they will not earn God’s love or favor. You are already loved. As Dallas Willard said, “Grace isn’t opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning.” Third, spiritual practices are a means to an end—being with Jesus and becoming like Him.

Special thanks to Megan for sharing her story of transformation through the practice of solitude. This week, our “go and do” is simply to adopt one of these practices into your rhythm. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is already prompting you to a particular practice. If not, consider taking a day this week to practice sabbath. Set aside 24 hours (if you are able) to simply stop, delight, rest and worship.

And just see what God does.