thank-you for providing an honest assessment of the three areas of spiritual
discipline where you have room for improvement and growth. All to often in
society today two of the three disciplines you listed are prevalent in many
Christians. a This typically attributed to secularization and moving away from God
and towards the world (Elwell, 1086). Christians today find themselves aligned to
the things of the world more often to the things of God. a It is often seen in the
value placed in self sacrificial giving and living. But once there is an awareness of
what is necessary for godly living it becomes intrinsically necessary to adjust as
you work towards realignment with God. By following the process outlined by
Whitney and focusing on disciplining yourself to fortifying the commitment to
becoming more God-centered your more aligned to the things of God than the
things of the world the distract from godly living. Finally, I would say that the fact
that your in school and as stated in 2 Timothy “Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV), that you are in fact focused upon the discipline of
learning. Your expressions are simple enough to understand. Your plans are clear.
Yet, as I read them, I realize that my post does not
nearly
cover all the areas of
spiritual disciplines where I require improvement. What is more odd is that I love
to serve! Charity work, especially, has captivated my heart since I was a little boy.
Still (following another of your examples), I never feel that I have the time to “get
involved.”
a a a a a a a a a a Further, the learning of spiritual disciplines, as compared to physical
workouts or practice, is not lost on me. We recall the example of Kevin in
Whitney’s first chapter—an excellent example.[1] Again—a comparison for my own
life comes blaring through! I love the results of going to the gymnasium. On the
contrary, I do not now, nor have I
ever
loved (or even
liked
, for that matter)
exercise! Ugh! I
do
, however, like
and
love the results. But I can do without the
soreness that halts plans for yardwork, housework (I live alone), or other such
tasks, even if only temporarily. My health, notwithstanding, I consider all parts of
exercise a dreadful inconvenience. Moreover, I claim that I cannot find the time
when an hour or less will more than suffice. (Incidentally, I can instantly find
much more time to watch a movie, for example.) Now—imagine that we trade the
subject of exercise for any of the spiritual disciplines that we discuss. I see little
(if any) difference with the way I typically treat them. Oh, the guilt! It must stop. I
have no interest in the (further) risk of the inherent dangers of
not
cultivating
spiritual disciplines, as expressed in Whitney and, hence, I gain an enrichment of
Philippians 2:12 (and shudder, sir. And shudder).[2]
Bibliography
Whitney, Donald S.
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.
Colorado Springs:
NavPress, 2014.
