e e Whitney’s main argument is that humanity has a purpose, and God provides the
path to that purpose through spiritual discipline. As Donald Whitney writes,
“Godliness—being like Jesus—is the purpose, but the God-given path to that
purpose is through certain activities found in Scripture known as the Spiritual
Disciplines.”[1] Whitney distinguishes these spiritual disciplines as part of the
corporal and individual experiences limited to the scope of the biblical model
provided by Jesus.[2] These disciplines grow and conform the disciple to the
image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
e e e e e e e e e e One can agree with Whitney that spiritual disciplines are indeed the path
to the God-given purpose for humanity. While the secular world certainly offers
other paths, they are hollow, fleeting, empty promises that can never fill the void in
the heart of humanity (Gen. 6:5). The only lasting joy and satisfaction found on
this earth come in aligning one’s heart and mind with the Father. The separation
from God in the fall created a need in man’s heart that can only be filled by its
original purpose, to have and receive connection with God. Transforming to the
image of Christ is the process of reconciliation with God. However, the things of
the secular world battle for the throne of one’s heart. It is the spiritual disciplines
that harness the power of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom of God, and the sacrifice of
Jesus to guide humanity towards salvation and away from the sin that divided it.
Without a commitment and respect for the spiritual disciplines as the path to
one’s purpose, the Christian life will be increasingly challenging.
e e e e e e e e e e In this writer’s commitment to the spiritual disciplines as a path to God-
given purpose, there are three areas where improvement is necessary. The first is
evangelism. It is far too easy to become comfortable being thankful for the
blessings of God while settling into the ideology that God will call His elect, the
Holy Spirit has it under control, and one can sit on one’s salvation being thankful
one is no longer dead in one’s sin. The gifts of God involve other people, and it is
the call of all disciples to evangelize the world (Matt. 28:19-20). Prayer life and
mindset require a shift in perspective to implement improvement.
e e e e e e e e e e The second area is fasting. This writer tends to only fast when there is a
need to ask God for something. To frame it appropriately, it is usually after there
is an unpleasant consequence. It would be far more preferable to take things to
God through fasting and prayer in obedience before an unpleasant situation rather
than bringing him the sacrifice of fasting as a means to ask for help. Therefore,
more focus will be placed on the timing of fasting for implementation.
e e e e e e e e e e The third area of improvement is in journaling. While this writer has filled
a notebook with handwritten accounts of how God has worked His will and
divinely given favor, it is increasingly difficult to find the time to continue this
trend with academics, ministry life, and being a father. Sometimes the apostle
John’s writings ring a little too true (John 21:25). Whitney writes, “As a Christian,
your journal is a place to document the works and ways of God in your life.”[3]
This writer should have a more robust account of all the ways God shows up to
carry His children. Ideally, one day other generations will look back and read about
the steps in faith necessary to follow God where He leads and, in turn, use those
writings as a growing account of faith-building in a family. Implementation will
require re-dedication to this effort through time better time management.
[Word Count: 608]
[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs:
NavPress, 2014), 5.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., 249.
Bibliography
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs:
NavPress, 2014.
