As Christians we rest our faith in the fact that Jesus paid it all – and He did, right? Well, not quite. The work of Jesus on the cross is a finished work for our redemption, but believers still have a lot to do. There are actions we need to take consistently so that our relationship with God can thrive and stand the test of time. These spiritual disciplines form the backbone of every solid Christian walk and have served generations of God’s people. Every mature believer will have these disciplines as a staple in his life.
Here is the list of spiritual disciplines that have helped believers grow to maturity, maintain fellowship with God, connect with God’s power, and endure trials:
- Prayer (individual and corporate)
- Worship (individual and corporate)
- Fasting (individual and corporate)
- Fellowship with brethren
- Giving
Prayer
One of the first things I was encouraged to do as a new believer was to have a prayer life. But it wasn’t just my old-fashioned advisors who thought prayerfulness was a good idea for a believer. The Bible displays several examples of people who gained spiritual strength through prayer.
The Apostle Paul
Paul was no stranger to hardships, but when the “messenger of Satan” showed up, Paul knew he had to pray about it. 2 Corinthians 12:8 indicates Paul approached God three times. The result was a word of comfort that helped the apostle to depend more deeply on Christ. He learned to appreciate his suffering, using words like “gladly” and “pleasure”. Paul’s drastic turn from wanting to be rid of his “thorn in the flesh” to glorying in it, was not possible without prayer.
Jesus
Another key example of prayerfulness in Scripture is Jesus. Even after full days of teaching and ministering to large crowds, Jesus would spend whole nights in prayer. Wasn’t it more important to eat and rest?
That Jesus would often choose to spend an entire night talking with the Father is a testament to the necessity and benefits of prayer. Jesus shows us that there are things only prayer can accomplish, including:
- Spiritual strength
- Ministry preparation
- Comfort
The Early Church
The early church exemplifies prayer in a corporate context. One dramatic incident took place upon the apostle Peter’s arrest (Acts 12:1-12). After losing the apostle James, the church determined not to have the same fate meet Peter. In verse 5, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church” and verse 12 affirms that “many were gathered together praying”.
The result was an angelic visit, chains falling off, clueless guards, and a gate opening on its own. The point is there is power in prayer!
Worship
Another spiritual discipline promoted in the Bible is worship.
Corporate worship is seen in the Old and New Testaments as something that invokes the presence, power and glory of God among His people and on their behalf.
Jehoshaphat and His People
In 2 Chronicles 20:21-29, the Lord effected a supernatural victory “when the people began to sing and to praise”. Though the enemies who were coming against them were described as a “great multitude”, the people of Judah didn’t need to fight. When all was over, they were able to:
- Acquire wealth they didn’t have before
- Return joyfully to their homeland
- See the fear of God on the surrounding kingdoms
Paul and Silas
Having been beaten and imprisoned, and with their wounds still fresh, Paul and Silas found the strength to pray and sing to God (Acts 16:25-26).
But why were they so insistent on praising God at such a dark moment?
The answer may lie in Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”. Paul and Silas must have known this truth.
They knew that worshipping their beloved Saviour would be an invitation to Him, and that His presence would bring them joy and pleasures of the Spirit. Such joy and pleasure would sustain them through the hard times.
Fasting
This not-so-glamorous spiritual discipline tackles our most pressing spiritual problem: the flesh.
When we fast, we are denying ourselves one of the most basic (and admittedly, enjoyable) physical desires. When it comes to food, there aren’t many willing to give up its pleasures.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline described and prescribed in the Old and New Testaments. In Ezra 8:20-22 for instance, Ezra called for a fast to seek Jehovah’s guidance and protection. Daniel is also a classic example of someone who fasted and got results, as seen in Daniel 10. The entire Jewish nation also understood that seeking God would always involve fasting (see Esther 4).
Jesus
Jesus maintained this prioritization of fasting:
- He taught about it using language suggesting it was expected, among other spiritual disciplines (“…when ye fast..” Matthew 6:16-17)
- He Himself practised this spiritual discipline when He fasted for forty days and nights (Luke 4:1-2)
The Early Church
The apostles and early Church also continued the practice. In Acts 13:1-3, for instance, the early church fasted as part of the commissioning of Barnabas and the apostle Paul. Paul also spoke of fastings as one element that approved him as a minister (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).
So what are the benefits of fasting? Here are a few:
- God’s guidance, provision and protection (Ezra 8)
- Spiritual revelation (Acts 13:1-3)
- Spiritual preparation and empowerment (Luke 4:13-15)
We may not find pleasure in it, but fasting is evidently a potent spiritual discipline for individuals and in our assemblies.
Fellowship with brethren
One of the hallmarks of the early church was their time spent together. They prayed with each other, sang together, fasted together and many times, shared meals. The New Testament uses words like:
- “…together…” (Acts 2:44)
- “…one accord…” (Acts 2:46)
- “…one another…” (Colossians 3:16)
Believers in the Scriptures fellowshipped in synagogues and in their homes, gathering so often that new believers could be added to the church daily.
Scripture further encourages us in not “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25) and with good reason. In fellowship:
- Believers encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25)
- The ministry of the Spirit is manifested (e.g. how Paul and Barnabas were sent out from Antioch)
- Powerful prayers are prayed (Acts 4:31)
- Physical needs are met (Acts 4:32)
So important was fellowship that even from prison, the apostle Paul expressed longing for the brethren:
- “…I have you in my heart…” (Philippians 1:7)
- “…how greatly I long after you all…” (Philippians 1:8)
The truth is that we are not meant to exist in Christ in complete isolation. Christian fellowship protects us from discouragement, stirs our spiritual gifts, and provides an environment for our faith to grow.
Giving
Giving as a Christian is a given (no pun intended). For example, offerings and tithes were part of Jewish law. Times of spiritual renewal also saw the Jewish people giving as a part of their penitence and conviction.
In addition, the book of Proverbs admonishes us to honour the Lord with the firstfruits of all our increase (Proverbs 3:9). Jesus also taught about giving alms in Matthew 6:1-4. He did not discourage the practice but rather clarified how it should be done.
Today, many believers practice tithing. Others do as Paul encourages where each one gives as he purposes in his heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Of note, we see Paul commending some churches for how they gave to other churches and also to his needs. In fact, the apostle Paul saw their gift to him as interest gained on their spiritual account (Philippians 4:17-18). Likewise, he described their gifts to him as a sacrifice that was sweet-smelling, acceptable and well-pleasing to God.
Physical giving was somehow translated into a spiritual substance that God would accept and use on behalf of the giver. That probably explains why Jesus perceived that the poor widow in Mark 12:42-43 had given more than all the rich.
Practical Application
Having satisfied ourselves that spiritual disciplines are scriptural and necessary, how do we make them a part of our lives?
The answer to that lies in the term itself: spiritual and discipline.
Spiritual Disciplines Require Discipline
Any discipline in our lives involves self-control, diligence, consistency and maybe even hard work (ugh!).
So you may not always be smiling about that nudge you feel in your spirit to bless a poor family. Prayer won’t always flow effortlessly. Sometimes you won’t feel like reading your Bible. You might have some conflicts with your church brethren, and don’t get me started on the ascetic practice of fasting!
Yes, spiritual disciplines are all disciplines – to be approached with grit and determination. Sometimes the only motivation you’ll ever feel is just knowing God expects these habits of you.
Spiritual Disciplines are Spiritual
Now let’s consider the next aspect of spiritual disciplines: they are spiritual.
The first thing this means is that you need and have Divine help. The Holy Spirit is your Helper so you don’t have to go it alone.
Secondly, this means that the outcomes you are looking for won’t always be glaring. The fruits of your diligent obedience may come only as increments, subtly improving Christ’s image in you.
Having said all this, there are some practical tools and ideas we can employ to implement spiritual disciplines into our lives:
- Using Bible reading plans
- Scheduling prayer with a productivity app
- Enlisting help from an accountability partner
- Rewarding yourself for achieving set milestones
FAQs
Do spiritual disciplines need to be done everyday?
Some spiritual disciplines lend themselves more conveniently to daily fulfillment than others. Fasting daily for your whole life is very unlikely (obviously), and even fellowshipping with believers may not be available every day. However, prayer and study of the Scriptures can be done daily. The main idea is to not utterly abandon these practices!
Is it worth it to continue my spiritual disciplines if I have known sin in my life?
Having sin in your life isn’t a cause for celebration, but quitting on the spiritual disciplines in such a condition threatens to make things worse. Use the rebuke of Scripture, the strength of Christian community, the confessional opportunity of prayer and the power of fasting to drive that sin out of your life.
Is there a right way and a wrong way to do spiritual disciplines?
Yes! Jesus challenged motives in Matthew 6:1-18 teaching on how to give alms, how to fast, and how to pray. He was concerned about spiritual disciplines done as a means of getting the praise of men and not God’s approval. If you’re struggling with this, talk to the Holy Spirit about it!
Is it ok if I don’t read whole chapters or pray for hours at a time?
Do what you can. If your time and motivation level are initially set to do 1 verse of Scripture and pray for 1 minute, then do it – consistently. But if you have the time and Spirit-led desire to pray and fast day and night (Remember the widow, Anna, Luke 2:36-37) then, do it!
Conclusion
Scripture shows us that spiritual disciplines have helped God’s people through hard times and in fulfilling their God-given assignments. Battles have been fought and won, protection was secured, miracles were manifested and churches grew all because the believers were steadfast in these basic Christian habits.
Though often deemed unpalatable to our flesh, (although I think that’s the idea), they are good for the inner man. From the newest babe in Christ to the most experienced minister, spiritual disciplines are for all believers. We’re never too young to start, and we never outgrow them.
If you’ve developed a steady routine of spiritual disciplines, your consistency is paying off, even if it doesn’t seem like it. If, on the other hand, you’re struggling to be steadfast in any spiritual discipline, now is the best time to start. Let’s not deny ourselves the spiritual blessings awaiting us on the other side of spiritual disciplines.
