God is inviting us to go on a journey into his heart and into the good life made available through Jesus: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). But entering into this abundant life takes more than wishful thinking; it takes a well-thought-out, feasible plan.
We all struggle to live out what we believe and know is right. So, the first part of this plan is a balanced vision, which we find when incorporating into our lives practices seen in Jesus' life and the history of the Church. These practices, or spiritual disciplines, mature us in traditions of life and faith.
Pick one exercise out of one of the following areas that you would like to work on. Remember that these ideas are merely suggestions and contain no rules or standards. Feel free to adapt or modify them to fit your needs and situation.
However, before you begin, let me offer a few words of caution:
Caution 1: Avoid vague goals.
Solution: make your goals measurable (i.e. read one chapter of the Bible each day).
Caution 2: Don’t try to do the impossible or unprofitable.
Solution: Be sure your plan is attainable. If your not sure, ask a camp sponsor.
Caution 3: Don’t distance yourself form the exercises.
Solution: Personalize the activities by doing them frequently and trying new ones.
Caution 4: Refrain from Procrastination.
Solution: Make specific plans now (I.e. “I will pray for 10 minutes every morning at 7:30 am).
Caution 5: In spite of Cautions 3 & 4, don’t allow yourself to become rigid or legalistic.
Solution: Be flexible when planning by focusing on the interior practice, not the exterior activity.
Above all, remember to reach a goal or become “holy” is not the reason we practice Spiritual disciplines; it is to experience the presence of God in our lives. Even in our failure we are learning and experiencing new and valuable things. Keep your emphasis on God and not on the method. This is difficult initially, but will become easier with time.
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Contemplative Tradition: The Prayer-Filled Life
...focuses upon intimacy with God and depth of spirituality. This spiritual dimension addresses the longing for a deeper, more vital Christian experience.
As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God (Ps. 42:1-2b).
Exercises
1. Pray for 10 minutes each morning or evening.
2. Pray without words (in silence) for five minutes each day.
3. Offer a short prayer throughout the day (for example, the Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus, Have mercy on me, a sinner” or the verse “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and tight spirit within me [Psalm 51:10]).
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Holiness Tradition: The Virtuous Life
...focuses upon personal moral transformation and the power to develop "holy habits." This spiritual dimension addresses the erosion of moral fiber in personal and social life.
Exercises
1. Work on taming your tongue; speak only when necessary.
2. Resolve to overcome temptation with silence and prayer. Instead of fighting or running from temptation, stand in silence, praying for God to give you strength.
3. Be a “gossip buster.” Whenever you of someone you are with begins to gossip, quickly end it. Guide the conversation to a different subject.
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Charismatic Tradition: The Spirit-Empowered Life
...focuses upon the charisms of the Spirit and worship. This spiritual dimension addresses the yearning for the immediacy of God's presence among his people.
Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts (Eph. 5:18b-19).
Exercises
1. Search the Scriptures to discover your spiritual gifts. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12: 8-11 list gifts that we are to strive for and exercise as members of the body of Christ. Read the passages, pray about them, and seek understanding.
2. Pray for the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that we must “ask” for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Do you feel that the Spirit is present and active in your life? If not, spend some time this week in prayer asking the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s real and life-giving presence.
3. Spend time reading about the “fruit” of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit, or “virtues,” of the Spirit. The presence of that fruit is a sure sign that God’s Spirit is working in your life. Choose one virtue that you would like to increase and pray for its increase, and seek ways you can nurture its growth.
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Social Justice Tradition: The Compassionate Life
...focuses upon justice and shalom in all human relationships and social structures. This spiritual dimension addresses the gospel imperative for equity and compassion among all peoples.
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream (Amos 5:24).
Exercises
1. Write a supportive letter this week to someone you feel may be needing a word of encouragement.
2. Help a friend in need. Do you know someone who needs assistance? Volunteering to help is a simple way to care for your neighbor.
3. Serve others with your words. Protect people’s reputation and speak well of others as a way of serving them. Kind words are great deeds.
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Evangelical Tradition: The Word-Centered Life
...focuses upon the proclamation of the evangel, the good news of the gospel. This spiritual dimension addresses the need for people to see the good news lived and hear the good news proclaimed.
"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-27).
Exercises
1. Read the Bible for fifteen minutes a day. Choose a method of reading (for example, tackling a chapter or a section a day) and follow it. Let the Bible influence the course of each day.
2. Talk about your faith in Jesus Christ with a friend here at camp this week.
3. Meditate on a psalm once a day. The psalms are wonderful prayers that help us commune with God. Let the words of the psalmist be your words. Read them slowly, over and over, until they become your prayers.
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Incarnational Tradition: The Sacramental Life
...focuses upon making present and visible the realm of the invisible spirit. This spiritual dimension addresses the crying need to experience God as truly manifest and notoriously active in daily life.
We have this treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7).
Exercises
1. Choose a day this week to do everything in honor of God.
2. Remove the barrier that keeps God outside. Imagine that you are wearing a full-body armor that keeps God’s Spirit out of the innermost parts of your being. Remove the armor, invite God in and wait until you feel that the work is complete, giving thanks at the end.
3. Receive Communion or Eucharist. Receive it joyfully, knowing that Christ is truly present to you and longs to strengthen and teach you daily.
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One of the great passions of my life is to seek God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. One of the best books that I have found on the development of our Spiritual Formation is: Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. Along with that, is a wonderful book that has helped me understand Spiritual Disciplines and the importance of applying them to my life. This book is Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
Below are articles that I have written which summarize each of the Spiritual Disciple that Foster details in this book. I hope that these articles will be of help to you in your spiritual walk with Christ. God Bless.