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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
