After reading Whitney'sSpiritual 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).
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. 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 theLordanswered me
and said: “Write the visionand makeitplain on tablets,That he may run
who reads it.3Forthe visionisyet for an appointed time;But at the end it
will speak, and it willnot lie. Though it tarries,wait for it;Because it
willsurely come,It will not tarry).
The three spiritual disciplines 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
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.
