Many people mistakenly believe if they go to church on Sunday and occasionally read the Bible – that’s all they need.
But regularly implementing spiritual disciplines into one’s life is crucial to growing in maturity as a Christian.
And if you’re wondering what spiritual disciplines you need – and how to incorporate them into your daily life – check out our quick guide below.
Reading And Meditating On God’s Word
To start – without knowing the Word of God and applying it to your life, no other discipline will matter.
Without the power of God in a believer, we do not have the “self-will” to resist temptation and avoid our fleshly desires.
Satan loves to prey on weak Christians – and he is always on the prowl seeking to separate believers from God.
But we know God’s Word is a powerful weapon to combat the lies of the Enemy… which is why it’s so important to know what His Word says!
All Scripture is “God-breathed” – and in reading it and meditating on what it says, we can have the power to live a godly life.
If you’ve neglected to read the Bible in the past – you can start today!
Consider using a Bible app and read through the Bible in a year – or start with a daily devotional.
Prayer
Prayer is essential to the Christian walk as it is our direct communication with God.
When we pray – we can praise Him for the blessings in our life and thank Him for sending Jesus to die for our sins.
We can repent for our sinful ways – and ask Him to help us defeat a stronghold we struggle with in our lives.
And prayer also invites us to cry out to Him with our petitions – and plead with Him for help for ourselves and others.
On this side of heaven, we might not fully understand how prayer works…
… but we do know that God hears our prayers – and always answers according to His will.
Think back to a time in your life when you prayed for something – and saw God deliver on it even more than you could’ve ever imagined.
Consider starting a prayer journal to write out your requests.
Throughout history, generations have cried out to God in prayer.
As you read through the Bible, you’ll be amazed by the unwavering faithfulness God has for His people through the ages.
Prayer is a spiritual discipline that is often neglected – but is essential to walking close with God and living out the Christian life.
Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is known – but not often talked about.
Many people think of fasting as just abstaining from food – but the intent is to get our focus off the things of this world – and focus on God.
Prayer and fasting often go together – and when we fast (or abstain) from anything that’s taking us away from God – whether it’s food or social media – the goal is to refocus our attention to our Heavenly Father – and to remind us that we need Him for survival.
The goal isn’t to “punish” believers – but instead draw us closer to God.
And remember – fasting isn’t about appearing “holy” to the outside world – it’s something personal and intimate you do with God.
So if you find yourself in a rut – or feel far away from God – consider implementing one or all of these spiritual disciplines – starting with reading the Word of God on a regular basis.
And if you do, I’m confident God will change your heart in ways you can’t even begin to imagine!
(h/t Christian Life Daily)