Spiritual Discipline

Intro: Have you ever wondered whether it was talent or sustained systematic training that makes athletes so good. When this question comes to mind, how do those so called athletes get to a point of being good at what they do?.

Well the reason why so many are good at what they do comes down to how much self-discipline they put themselves through in order to become better in their talents.

Have you ever thought about what Olympic athletes need to have in order to succeed? In sports and in life, or the ability to accomplish things that can attract remarkable opportunities to you because you see them succeeding. Like I just said, this is not a given to them, but it all starts with self-discipline.

Self-discipline puts you on the driving seat. It’s what keeps you focused on your purpose. Like a camera lens zooming into a single object. The details and distractions around it dissipate as you zoom in. From athletic performance to life achievements, accomplishing something important is not easy. But it can be simple.

So as an athlete works hard to excel at a particular sport. Every step forward in their athletic development is the result of choices. Sometimes those choices require that they tell themselves "no" when they want to enjoy junk food, hang out with friends, or sleep in. Because each sport requires them to improve individual skills, an athlete has a specific workout and diet

Now for us Christians it's not like spirituality is a muscle that we can work until it's big and strong—Or Is it? Can we train ourselves to be godly? Can we also use Discipline in our lives to become better in who we are as a Christian? Or is that a given? What would be your answer?

To many of us we should answer yes, because if we do not discipline ourselves into learning more of God, how will our walk look like to others who are on the outside looking in. Even as athletes train and discipline themselves to better at what they do, we as Christians should be doing the same.

Now with that out of the way, what would be the meaning of a spiritual discipline in a Christians life?

Simple, A spiritual discipline is the regular or full-time performance of actions and activities undertaken for the purpose of inducing spiritual experiences and cultivating spiritual development. A common metaphor used in the spiritual traditions of the world's great religions is that of walking a path.

Some spiritual disciplines are personal, inward exercises that are practiced alone; others require interpersonal relationships and are practiced in community.

Throughout time, many philosophers, theologians, and writers have proposed a number of practices that might be considered spiritual disciplines.

These include: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Simplicity, Fellowship, Chastity, Stewardship, Submission/Obedience, Study, Contemplation, Self-Examination just to name a few.

Reading: Heb. 13:9 - Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Prayer….

Title Spiritual Discipline

The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times

Spiritual disciplines are habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen certain qualities of spirit — to build the “muscles” of one's character and expand the breadth of one's inner life. They structure the “workouts” which train the soul.

The Bible prescribes both personal and interpersonal spiritual disciplines. There are those spiritual disciplines that we practice alone and those that we practice with other Christians. But this is something each of us should be working on in a daily basis in our lives.

In this message were going to cover a few ways we should consider how we should discipline ourselves to be strong in our Christian walk with the Lord.

1. Way For Spiritual Discipline is: Discipline Your Devotions

1 Timothy 2:8 says - I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

What happens, many fail in the Christian life. They do not discipline themselves when it comes to their daily devotions. Folks we must make time for God—to read, to pray, and to meditate on God’s Word each day, giving Him first place in our lives Why?

Well in Matthew 6:33 tells us - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So the more we Discipline our Devotions to serving him, as in accordance to his words, the more that’s added to us in doing so.