After reading Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, what do you
understand his main argument to be? Do you agree with him or disagree? Why or
why not? What are three spiritual disciplines you need to strengthen and how do
you plan to implement them?
I believe that Whitney’s main argument is to present spiritual disciplines to guide
Christians into operating in the fullness of godliness. Meaning as believers we
should be operating in Bible intake (reading, listening, and meditating, studying on
the word of God.), prayer (praying without ceasing.), worship (worshipping in spirit
and in truth. Rather in corporate setting or personal space at home.) evangelism
(sharing the Gospel with the churched and unchurched all walks of life. ), serving
(serving can be challenging but one must be obedient, humble, operate in
forgiveness and love. And do not let pride take control.), stewardship (manage
your time wisely and manage the resources that was given to you. Giving should
be a big part of your life because it is an act of worship.), fasting, silence and
solitude (these three points go hand and hand. It is important to fast with prayer
because break through happen. I feel you hear God clearly. Silence and solitude is
important too especially when you feel like you can hear clearly about situations
in one’s life), journaling, and learning (there is no biblical rule or scripture for
these points, but for me I do journal all my dreams and research scriptures to see
if it lines up with it. I can evaluate myself). d
d d d d d d d d d d I agree with the author as far as the believer operating in these spiritual
disciplines as long as it is biblically sound or based. Meaning , I try to make sure
that everything I do is biblically based and there is scripture to back it up. d The
journaling and learning I am not too sure about, because for me the journaling
and learning I understood it to be a personal thing to do. There is no biblical
scripture that I know that I could attach it to unless I referenced Habakkuk 2:3
(Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on
tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come, It will not tarry).
d d d d d d d d d d The three spiritual disciplines d that I need to strengthen would be Bible
intake, prayer, and stewardship of time. The Bible intake for me is that I just need
to be consistent because it is a struggle for me especially dealing with family,
work obligations. Prayer has gotten better but I d struggle with consistency. I start
of strong and then life happens, and I find myself back in the cycle of
inconsistency. Stewardship of time and money. It has gotten better than it was
before. These three points all have inconsistency issues. What I have learned is if
I go into my prayer closet people leave me alone because I have to have that
time with God. When I do not have that time, I feel everything is out of order. I
speak out loud “I will be consistent in the right things, Lord make me consistent
in reading the Bible, praying, and stewardship of time and wisdom in finances”.
As far as implementing, I have to do it on purpose. I have to set that time no
matter what is going on.
