Meditation

Richard Foster wrote, “Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness” he will reset satisfied… Though it may sound strange to modern ears, we should without shame enroll as apprentices in the school of contemplative prayer.” (Foster, p. 15).

Donald Whitney wrote, “One sad feature of our modern culture is that meditation has become identified more with nonChristian systems of thought than with biblical Christianity…yoga, transcendental meditation, relaxation therapy, New Age Movement…. We must remember that meditation is both commanded by God and modeled by the Godly in Scripture.” (Whitney, p. 47)

Adele Calhoun wrote, “Meditation runs counter to our busy culture, where speed reading, first impressions and skimming are as deep as we go. In meditation we gaze at something or someone long and longingly. We seek the treasure and truth of what we see.” (Calhoun, p. 173)

What are the first images that come to your mind when you think of meditation?

Do you feel comfortable and confident to meditate? 

Do you ever feel that meditation is too difficult, complicated or weird? Why?

What is Meditation

MEDITATION: The act of calling to mind some supposition, pondering upon it, and correlating it to one’s own life. The Hebrew words for meditation primarily were derived from two separate roots. The first (hagah) literally means “to utter in a low sound.” The word is used to denote the growling of a lion    or the cooing of a dove. Therefore it has been suggested that, in ancient Hebrew meditation, Scripture frequently was recited in a low murmur. The second root word (siach) has the basic meaning of “to be occupied with,” or “concerned about.” Thus meditation is the repetitious going over of a matter in one’s mind because it is the chief concern of life. “…Listening to God’s word, reflecting on God’s works, rehearsing God’s deeds, ruminating on God’s law … in each case there is stress upon changed behavior as a result of our encounter with the living God.” (Foster, p.15) “Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer. Meditation goes beyond hearing, reading, studying, and even memorizing as a means of taking in God’s Word.” (Whitney, p. 48) Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind (and our lives) with God and detach ourselves from the confusion around us. This allows us to focus on God and obtain an inner wholeness and an ordered life.  (www.opensourcespirituality.com) Jesus made a habit of withdrawing to a lonely place (Matthew 14:13) in order  to be with God. (see Matt. 4: 1-11; 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:31; Luke 6:12, etc.) What did Jesus do time after time in those deserted hills?

Meditation is not reading, but reading can stimulate meditation. 

Meditation is simple. No specific surroundings are necessary. No special instruction is really needed. Of course these things can be added and can influence an effective time, but by itself meditation does not demand any kind of outward set up.

Meditation is practical. It is a matter of allowing your mind to soak in the word of God … saturate your attitude and spirit with God’s wisdom. It can make a great difference in the things you say, write, think, and experience during the day. Meditation is the one thing that can sufficiently redirect our lives so that we can deal with human life successfully …Meditation sends us into our ordinary world with greater perspective and balance. (Foster, 22). “When we delight in God’s Word we think about it, that is, we meditate on it, at times all throughout the day and night. The result of such meditation is stability, fruitfulness, perseverance, and prosperity.” (Whitney, p. 49) Meditation sets spiritual life in motion. There is no opening prayer and closing prayer. There is no ‘bring us back again at the next appointed time’. For the things that we learn in our time with God will color our day. We will see God at work in the corners of our lives. The places that we used to glance over are now alive with His energy. No… they are not now alive. We only now see them. Our spiritual walk with God is different than it used to be. We have stepped out of the Matrix.

Meditation is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. Jesus is alive and among us as our Priest to forgive us, our Prophet to teach us, our King to rule us, our Shepherd to guide us. (Foster, p. 17, 19). “Whereas the study of Scripture centers on exegesis, the meditation of Scripture centers on internalizing and personalizing the passage. The written Word becomes a living word addressed to you. This is not a time for technical studies, or analysis, or even the gathering of material to share    with others. Set aside all tendencies toward arrogance and with a humble heart receive the word addressed to you.” Foster in Celebration of Discipline.

Perhaps the major hope of meditation is to be sure that we have not clouded our reception with God. Our interests are not usually geared to the quiet or the subtle. We live in a loud world and the loudest voice has us. That is, unless we discovered through experience the life-change that can be brought about in this sacred hour. Perhaps we hear from God in a hundred inadvertent ways, but when do we ever purposefully stop our exciting lives to give God our undivided attention? Meditation answers that question.

The Purpose of Meditation

“In meditation we are growing into what Thomas ‘a Kempis calls ‘a familiar friendship with Jesus’” (Foster, 19). What happens in meditation is that we create the emotional and spiritual space which allows Christ to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart… We who have turned our lives over to Christ need to know how very much he longs to eat with us, to commune with us. (Foster, 20). We seek for our desires and aspirations to be more and more conformed to his way.

Scriptures that speak of meditation include Joshua 1:7 ,  Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 19:13-14, Psalm 48:9-10, Psalm 77:11-13,  Psalm 104:33-34, Psalm 119, Psalm 145:4-6 Psalm 143:4-6.

Meditation Requires Sitting Still

I need to sit still so that I will be able to search my heart with honesty. “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah” (Psalm 4:4)

I need to sit still so that I can perceive His guidance. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s   sake.” (Psalm 23:2-3)

I need to sit still so I can observe the victorious reign of God in a broken war-torn world, and seek refuge in Him alone. “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46:9-11)

“Simple physical exercises like stretching, sitting comfortably and breathing deeply can help us pay attention, listen deeply and even curb our distractability.” (Calhoun, p. 173)

We’ve all become excellent multi-taskers. With just a lower level of acceptable quality, quantity can be increased significantly. This works in some settings, but not in the kingdom. Modern believers cannot accept meditation because it seems that there should be something else going on also. To sit and quietly contemplate our life in God seems like such a waste. After all, while you’re doing that, you could be folding the towels or taking out the garbage or checking your e-mail…

Preparing to Meditate

We learn to meditate by meditating. A time to meditate is good, but we are aiming for the ability to meditate whenever we have opportunity. A place to meditate. “Find a place that is quiet and free from interruption. No telephone should be nearby. If it is possible to find some place that looks out onto a lovely landscape, so much the better.” (Foster, p. 28)

Forms of Meditation

Meditation upon Scripture – the central reference point by which all other forms of meditation are kept in proper perspective. This is the process of internalizing and personalizing the passage. Do not rush over Bible passages superficially – this reflects our internal state of hurry. Dietrich Bonhoeffer recommended spending a whole week on a single text. Take a single event or parable, or a few verses or even a single word and allow it to take root in you.

Donald Whitney recommends this format for meditating on Scripture: (Whitney, p. 52ff)

Select an appropriate passage. “Verses that conspicuously relate to your concerns and personal needs are clearly targets for meditation.” (p. 52)

Repeat in different ways … turn it around like a diamond to see every facet (p. 53). Think deeply about each word in the passage.

Rewrite it in your own words (p. 54).

Look for applications of the text (p. 54). Like chewing without swallowing, so meditation is incomplete without some type of application.

Pray through the text. Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

Don’t rush – take time. It is better to understand a small amount of Scripture and meditate on it than to read an extensive section without meditation. Choose to read less in order to have more time with the text. (Whitney, p. 55)

Another format for meditation is Re-collection or “Centering Down” – a time to become still, to enter into the recreating silence, to allow the fragmentation of our minds to become centered. (Foster, p. 30) “Collecting” all that which worries us, handing it over to God, and then receiving his replacements e.g. give up pride, receive humility.. (Palms down, Palms up). (Open Source Spirituality)

Meditation upon the Creation. Focus on the created order … the trees, a flower, the creatures of the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1). Let these lead you to a calm spirit.

Do not be discouraged if in the beginning your meditations have little meaning to you. There is a progression in the spiritual life, and it is wise to have some experience with lesser peaks before trying to tackle the Mt. Everest of the soul. (Foster, 32)

Open Source Spirituality suggests the following method for meditation:

During the week try and find time (about 20-30 mins.) to practice meditation. 

Open your Bible to the chosen Bible reading. Leave it open in front of you. 

Enter into God’s presence in prayer, asking that His Spirit will bring His word to life for you. Slow down.

Consciously slow down your breathing; breathe deeper, more gently, invite the Holy Spirit into your life. With every deep breath in say, “I breathe in the Holy Spirit”, with every deep breath out say, “I breathe out the Love of God”. Allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate every part of your being. Picture that happening. 

Now read the scripture passage slowly. (Do not analyze or study it.) Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you what He wants. 

When a word or phrase “lights up” or “rings a bell”, put your bible down. Concentrate on God’s word to you by repeating it (gently, not mechanically). Do not force any response/emotion; allow the Holy Spirit to work. 

As you become aware of the impression (feeling/attitude) God’s word has made on you, respond to God in prayer, or in silence if you wish. Be with Christ, bask in His love. 

As distractions set in, close your prayer off in whatever way you want (you may wish to say the Lord’s Prayer).

A recent comment on John Alan Turner’s blog suggested reading the Psalms thus: 

The Psalms – one per week, three times per day

Once through the lens of OT

Once through lens of Jesus

Once as personal prayer.

Is purposeful meditation on the word of God a regular practice in your life?

I think we can see that this practice goes beyond reading, beyond lesson preparation, beyond commentary.

Do you have some specific practices that aid you in meditating on the Word?

Is life too fast to even consider taking time to do this?

Do we let the reading of devotional material take the place of reading the Scriptures?

Do you couple meditation with journaling?
References

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.
Foster, Richard. Celebration of Discipline.
John Alan Turner’s Blog (http://blog.faith20.org)
Open Source Spirituality (www.opensourcespirituality.com)
WCG.ORG (http://www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/group/discip7.htm)
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Spiritual Journaling

Spiritual Journaling can be particularly meaningful, and it can be very difficult. What kinds of things make journaling difficult? Worry that someone will read the journal? Feeling that it’s too painful to go over a conflict? Disliking to write things down? Feeling obligated to write in it every day? Thinking you need to have a special sort of book? Other? (Johnson, p. 40)

A journal (diary) is a book in which a Christian records the works and ways of God in their life. Other things in the journal include daily events, personal relationships, insights into Scripture, prayer requests. Quotations, interactions with readings, questions, poetry, memories – these are also acceptable journal subjects. Jim Martin says, “My journal is a place where I will often dump a lot of anxiety, anger, and frustration.  It is a place where I talk about my temptations and sins.” There are some God-inspired journals in the Bible. Many psalms are records of David’s personal spiritual journey with the Lord. The journal of Jeremiah’s feelings about the fall of Jerusalem is the book of Lamentations. 

Some Beginning Observations about Spiritual Journaling

Your journal is for you.  

Your journal clarifies the reality of your life. Seeing things in print brings a different perspective. “Journaling is a way of paying attention to our lives…” (Calhoun, p. 57)

Your journal reminds you to live with authenticity and genuineness. 

Your journal should be kept for future reference.

In her book Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindberg writes, 

“I begin these pages for myself, in order to think out my own particular pattern of living, my individual balance of life, work, and human relationships.  And since I think best with a pencil in my hand, I started to write…”  

She describes the spiritual discipline of journaling.  Many Christians have found journaling to be extremely important to spiritual growth and development. The practice has become one of the most significant disciplines in the ongoing spiritual development of many believers.  

WHAT IS JOURNALING?

Journaling is not the mere recording of facts about the day’s events.  It is more than keeping a log or diary.  

Journaling involves reflection and contemplation.  Journaling as a spiritual discipline involves the contemplation of life in light of the spiritual center.  For Christians, that spiritual center is probably best expressed in that ancient and profound creedal statement, “Jesus is Lord.” 

Journals record successes and failures, prayers, depression, and  other events and emotions in the lives of human beings who are  serious about living under the will of God.

HOW CAN JOURNALING HELP ME PRACTICALLY?

Journaling can enable one both to remember and to clarify thoughts, feelings and ideas. How many times have you had a keen insight or a significant thought and then it occurred to you, “I really need to write that down”?  However, the idea, the feeling, the    thought was never written and has since been long forgotten.  Such ideas and impressions may forever be lost.  “A journal is a place where we can give expression to the fountain of our heart, where we can unreservedly pour out our passion before the Lord. Since human thoughts and emotions range between extremes of exhilaration and despondency, we can expect to find both within the pages of our journal.” (Whitney, p. 209)

Journaling can help one become aware of patterns of behavior.  Gordon MacDonald wrote concerning his practice of journaling: “At first it was difficult.  I felt self-conscious.  I was worried that I would lose the journal or that someone might peek inside to see what I’d said.  But slowly the self-consciousness began to fade, and I found myself sharing in the journal more and more of the thoughts that flooded my inner spirit.  Into the journal went words describing my feelings, my fear and sense of weakness, my hopes, and my discoveries about where Christ was leading me.  When I felt empty or defeated, I talked about that too in the journal.  Slowly I began to realize that the journal was helping me come to grips with an enormous part of my inner person that I had never been fully honest about.   No longer could fears and struggles remain inside without definition.  They were surfaced and confronted… (Gordon MacDonald, Ordering Your Private World, p. 131). Journaling helps us see patterns that may be present in our lives. Are there recurring themes of anger, rationalization, and negative, destructive thought patterns? The purpose of discovering such a pattern is not simply self-exploration but the intersection of our lives with God’s redemptive work in our world.  Perhaps there are entries which reflect that you are offended and angry quite regularly.  As you read through the entries, ask yourself how a total stranger might perceive you upon reading the same entries.  

Journaling gives the opportunity to reflect upon the day and week in light of our faith.  Unfortunately, too many days and weeks are lived without reflection and thought.  Consequently, there may not be a real awareness of how faith is or is not being integrated into daily life.  So often weeks and months pass and there is not serious contemplation as to where we are in our spiritual journey.  Keeping a journal allows a built-in time to review and examine the days and weeks in light of one’s faith in Jesus. “…Meaningful meditation requires a concentration not often developed in our fast-paced, media-distracted society. … Sitting with pen and paper also heightens my expectation of hearing from God as I think on Him and His words in the passage before me.” (Whitney, p. 208, 209)

Journaling may give important insight about the state of one’s spiritual journey.  Reading journal entries from several years back can give insight into the past, the present, and the future. “Over time repetitious themes, sins, compulsions, hopes, and concerns emerge. We begin to recognize our besetting sins, limitations and desires. During times of transition, travel, loss, joy, illness and decision making, journaling can provide a way of processing the hopes, fears, longings, angers and prayer sof our heart.” (Calhoun, p. 57)

Journaling helps maintain the other spiritual Disciplines. 

HOW DOES A PERSON KEEP A JOURNAL?

Have a definite time each day for writing in the journal.

Select a journal that fits your preferences. Jim Martin writes, “At one time, I used college-ruled, spiral-bound notebooks.  For several years I have been using bound notebooks (clothbound notebooks containing about seventy-five pages of blank, ruled paper).  Most entries fill somewhere between one and three pages.”

Write on a variety of topics.  The entries might be varied; after all, the journal is for the writer and not the writer for the journal.  In other words, make the journal useful to you.  You are not doing this for anyone else. What kinds of things make good journal entries? Reflection on the events of the day and their meaning in light of one’s faith commitment.  Written prayers can help a person express to the Father some of the deepest longings of the heart.  A written prayer list can bring to the awareness the situations and people who weigh heavily on the writer’s heart.  Sins can be confessed and repentance offered before God. 

Write freely, reflecting on the past and God’s intervention in life.  

Quotes & Reflections. From books, the daily newspaper, and other periodicals certain poignant quotes may jump out at you.  The quote can be copied as well as some reflection of how this quote interacts with your own thinking.

Absolute honesty is very important.  We write to reveal ourselves to the Lord.  Henri Nouwen kept a spiritual journal during his first year at L’Arche, a community in Toronto for adults who experience severe mental and even physical challenges.  The journal reflects his move from serving as a professor at Harvard University to working with these adults in a very different environment.   Nouwen displays his disarming honesty when he writes on Saturday, March 15:

I love Jesus but want to hold on to my own friends even when they do not lead me closer to Jesus.  I love Jesus but want to hold on to my own independence even when that independence brings me no real freedom.  I love Jesus but do not want to lose the respect of my professional colleagues, even though I know that their respect does not make me grow spiritually.  I love Jesus but do not want to give up my writing plans, travel plans, even when these plans are more to my glory than to the glory of God.  (Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak, pp. 147-148)

Seek self-knowledge in the context of our repentance and God’s redemption.  This activity of God in our lives is the thread that binds the days and weeks of our journals and lives together. Romans 12:3 encourages us to have a balanced self-image. “A journal can be the means by which the Holy Spirit shows us areas of sin or weakness, the emptiness of a path we have chosen, insight into our motives, or other things that can transform the journal pate into an altar of seeking God.” (Whitney, p. 207)

Summarize. Every month summarize the month’s entries noting key events and themes.

Continue to journal during the dry times. “The novelty of journaling soon wears off. There will be days when you will have a spiritual version of ‘writer’s block’. At other times you just won’t have any insights from scriptures or your experience with God which seem noteworthy … plan for persistence.” (Whitney, p. 220)

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Many of these points were gleaned from four articles on Journaling found on Jim Martin’s blog. I encourage you to read these in their unedited and more personal form. The links are below.

Jim Martin Posts on Journaling
http://godhungry.org/?p=720
http://godhungry.org/?p=721
http://godhungry.org/?p=722
http://godhungry.org/?p=724

Other Resources:

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook.
Johnson, Jan. Reflection & Confession.
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.

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Homework Assignment 

In your journal, write some reflections on the following questions.

* What are the distractions present in my life that keep me from a spiritual focus?      

*What sin have I excused away in order not to deal with it seriously?      

*What are some reasons that being a disciple of Jesus brings me great joy?

* What is my favorite Scripture? After reading that Scripture, list the three most powerful words in that passage – the words that if removed would ruin the passage. Re-write a portion of that passage in your  own words. 

*Spend 15 minutes reading Psalm 1. Read it slowly. Read it out loud. Read each verse a few times. In your imagination place yourself at a table with Jesus. Imagine that Jesus is saying this Psalm to you. Only after these exercises, write  down four or five thoughts that come to mind about this Psalm.

Next Week’s Subject is: Meditation as a Spiritual Discipline.

Read the following quotes about meditation before coming to class next week. It comes from THIS BLOG. Meditation by  W. David Phillips Here are a few quotes I wanted to pass on to you about meditation:

Meditation, according to Whitney involves, “filling your mind with God and truth. For some, meditation is an attempt to achieve complete mental passivity, but biblical mediation requires constructive mental activity.” 1 He goes on to define mediation as “deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer. Meditation goes beyond hearing, reading, studying, and even memorizing as a means of taking in God’s word.”2 One of the images that may best describe meditation is the steeping of tea. 

Eugene Peterson, in his book “Eat this Book” speaks of meditation as part of the act of reading scripture. He says that it is the “discipline we give to keeping the memory active in the act of reading. Meditation moves from looking at the words of the text to entering the world of the text. As we take this text into ourselves, we find that the text is taking us into itself…Meditation is the aspect of spiritual reading that trains us to read Scripture as a connected, coherent whole, not a collection of inspired bits and pieces…Mediation is the primary way in which we guard against the fragmentation of our Scripture reading into isolated oracles…Meditation is the prayerful employ of imagination in order to become friends with the text. It must not be confused with fancy or fantasy”.3

Peterson goes on to say that “meditation is not intrusion, it is rumination – letting the images and stories of the entire revelation penetrate our understanding. By meditation we make ourselves at home and conversant with everyone in the story, entering the place where Moses and Elijah and Jesus come together. Participation is necessary. Meditation is participation.”4

“No text can be understood out of its entire context. The most “entire” context is Jesus. Every biblical text must be read in the living presence of Jesus. Every word of the scriptural text is a window or door leading us out of the tarpaper shacks of self into this great outdoors of God’s revelation in sky and ocean, tree and flower, Isaiah and Mary, and, finally and completely, Jesus. Meditation discerns the connections and listens for the harmonies that come together in Jesus.” 5

1 Whitney, 43.

2 Ibid, 44.

3Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book, Eerdmans, 2007, pg 99-101.

4Ibid, 101-102.

5Ibid, 102.

A Deeper Walk…An Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO THE DISCIPLINES

Introduction

This is an introduction into some ancient Christian practices known as “Spiritual Disciplines”. These practices serve as doorways through which we invite God to change our hearts and draw us closer to Him. James 4:7-8a says, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you…” In order to have a walk that is deeper on a spiritual level, we must engage in some activities that bring about a spiritual focus. Modern Christianity seems to say “Be nice, Go to Church, Do the Right Thing.” Many Christians end up feeling empty with advice like that. We want to find some spiritual fuel for our lives that reminds us that God is real.

The goal of the Spiritual Disciplines is Spiritual Formation. “Spiritual Formation is the process of transforming the inner reality of the self in such a way that the overall life with God seen in the Bible naturally and freely comes to pass in us. Our inner world becomes the home of Jesus, by his initiative and our response. (Foster in Graybeal and Roller, p. xi, xii). We are seeking to form our lives and hearts into the image of Jesus Christ.

What are the Spiritual Disciplines that bring about this Spiritual Formation? They include fasting and prayer, study and service, submission and solitude, confession and worship, meditation and silence, simplicity, frugality, secrecy, sacrifice, and celebration. (Foster in Graybeal and Roller, p. xii).  Spiritual disciplines can be described as behaviors that facilitate spiritual growth.

The primary requirement for investing ourselves in the Disciplines is a longing after God. Psalm 42:1,2, 7 “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?.. .Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” There are some realistic struggles as we begin this series of study.

1. STRUGGLES WE FACE WITH THE DISCIPLINES

Ignorance. The Bible calls us to fasting, prayer, worship, and celebration but gives almost no instruction on how to do them. How many sermons have you heard on fasting … or on the importance of centering Prayer … solitude? This has not been a topic of discussion in Christian circles in any expansive way.

Turning the Disciplines into Mechanics. Practicing the disciplines is not like a science project where you prove the outcome by demonstrating the process. The effects of the Disciplines are inward, spiritual, and affect the heart. Instead of “just tell me what to do” we need to be thinking “just tell me how to become”.

Turning the Disciplines into Laws. These classes are not meant to suggest that those who do not practice the Disciplines are somehow not committed to Jesus. We are not suggesting that God will like us better if we practice the Disciplines. The Disciplines represent a search for intimacy with God, not a new set of rules. “It is not the spiritual disciplines per se that transform us into the likeness of Christ. Without the work of God’s Spirit within, practices guarantee nothing.” (Calhoun, p. 18).

Seeking an Experience. An experience with God is not to be refused, but we are not looking to create such. We may not feel God’s nearness at all. That does not mean He is not near. Feelings are a dangerous barometer of success or intimacy. What often happens when we fall into this temptation is that we reject reality in order to try to discover some other world of the Spirit. This temptation reveals the subtle belief that we cannot experience God in the world we are in, but rather must go beyond this world to experience the things that are truly spiritual.  (Metamorpha website)

Trusting Willpower. We need to grow beyond our dependence on willpower to overcome sin. “Whatever may be the issue for us – anger, fear, bitterness, gluttony, pride, lust, substance abuse – we determine never to do it again; we pray against it, fight against it, set our will against it, but the struggle is all in vain and we find ourselves once again morally bankrupt or, worse yet, …  proud of our external righteousness…Willpower will never succeed in dealing with the deeply ingrained habits of sin.” (Foster, p. 4, 5)

Bearing little spiritual fruit. “…Spiritual gifts must be developed by discipline in order to bear spiritual fruit.” (Whitney, p. 23)

2. WHY STUDY THE DISCIPLINES?

 They are a Means of Receiving Grace. “God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us.”  (Foster,  p.7) Galatians 6:8 “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”

The Disciplines are a way of sowing to the Spirit … getting us into the ground where God can work within us and transform us. “As we place ourselves in them to seek communion with Christ, His grace flows to us.” (Whitney, p. 19)

A Means of Pursuing Godliness. 1 Timothy 4:7 “…discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…” 

Revelation of False Self-Conceptions and Idols of our heart. “Becoming aware of what is true and false about us is essential for spiritual growth, and it is not always comfortable.” (Calhoun, p. 19)

Jesus Expects us to Seek Him. “Throughout the centuries the disciplines of prayer, confession, worship, stewardship,   fellowship, service, attending to Scripture and the Lord’s Supper have remained constant channels and disciplines of grace. These time-resilient disciplines give the church in every age and culture ways to keep company with Jesus.” (Calhoun, p. 18). Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jesus Modeled the Disciplines For Us. “Jesus was the most disciplined Man who ever lived and yet the most joyful and passionately alive. He is our example of discipline.” (Whitney, p. 24)

 Conclusion

 The undisciplined are like playwright George Kaufman, who was enduring a sales pitch from a gold-mine promoter. The salesman was praising the productivity of the mine in hopes of persuading Kaufman to buy shares in it. “Why, it’s so rich you can pick up the chunks of gold from the ground.”  Kaufman said, “Do you mean I’d have to bend over?” The gold of Godliness isn’t found on the surface of Christianity. It has to be dug from the depths with the tools of the Disciplines. (Whitney, p. 22) For the most part, the practicing of the disciplines will usually have two outcomes for our soul. The disciplines can either bring consolation (a feeling of closeness with God) or desolation (a feeling of God’s absence). (Coe)

God’s Grace is unearned and unearnable, we are not trying to win God’s love. We are simply putting ourselves in a place where God can change us (so that we can fulfill the potential God has created in us).  

REFERENCES

Albecht, Charles & Susie. www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/group/discip1.htm

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, 2005, InterVarsity Press.

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