1. Spiritual disciplines are activities, NOT attitudes/characteristics (things you DO) 2. Both personal and interpersonal (to be done alone & in community) 3. Practices that are taught & modelled in the Bible 4. Help us to know & experience God (and become more Christ-like) 5. They bring us deeper into the Gospel, rather than separating us from it
**some examples of spiritual disciplines will be listed below along with different ways to practice them :)
Why is it important to practice spiritual disciplines?
The main reason we practice spiritual disciplines is to become more like Jesus in all we say and do. The spiritual disciplines help us to align ourselves with God as we walk through this life. As we become more aligned with God, we will also find joy and peace.
Prayer
There are many different things we can pray for:
-Praise (praising God for who He is) - Rest & Listening (listening to what God might be saying to you) - Thanksgiving (offering gratitude for what God is doing in your life) - Confession (confessing your sins to God and asking Him for forgiveness) - Scripture Prayer (using words from Scripture that resonate with you in your prayer) - Petition (asking for things for yourself such as becoming a better friend or handing over worries you have about the present or future)
**These are some formal things you can pray about but really God wants to hear from you so you can tell Him about anything!
There are also many different ways to pray... here are some examples you could try:
- Silence: Set aside time to sit in quiet and be attention to God's character and voice - Spirit-led Prayer: Ask God about who to pray for, how to pray for the, how to see them, etc. - Prayer Journalling: Ask God questions and write down the answers He provides in your journal - Prayer of Contemplation/Centring Prayer: Choose a word/short phrase and say it with each breath (ex. inhale: Be still; exhale: know God)... this prayer is meant to help you find a still place within yourself (might be helpful in busy seasons throughout the school year)
Scripture
Sometimes, the Bible can seem really intimidating... here are some strategies for studying it well:
- Following a Bible reading plan (you can find many online) - Join a Bible study (such as our LUMC youth group Bible study) - Find a Bible study online to follow (a good Bible study will present questions for you to reflect on while you read the passages it suggests)
TRY: Lectio Divina Exercise:
- Select a short passage of Scripture (anywhere from 1-6 verses); you'll be reading this passage three times (while leaving space for reflection in between) - The first time through, simply read the passage you've selected - Pause to reflect - The second time through, listen for a word or phrase that stands out to you from the passage - Pause to reflect - The third time through, try to understand what God is saying to you with this phrase (ask questions such as "why this word/phrase?", "what do you want me to do with this word/phrase?", or "how does this word/phrase apply to my life?") - Pause to reflect
Worship
Sometimes music can help us to feel and/or express our feelings in a unique way. Singing songs of worship can help us to express God's goodness. It can also help us to experience His presence. Try taking some time to listen to/sing along with some worship music or even play it while you do other things such as cleaning your room or driving the car - it can help you feel connected to God throughout your day!
If you want to be introduced to new worship music, there are lots of playlists you can access on platforms such as Spotify or YouTube.
Service
God calls us to be servant leaders as Jesus was. One of the best ways to do this is to get involved in your community. Look for opportunities to give back. Offer your time by volunteering with local organizations.
A quick Google search will provide you with a list of volunteer opportunities but here are a few examples to get you started:
- Leamington Gleaners - SECC - Soup kitchens - Offer to help the elderly with yard work
Fellowship
Fellowship is also a great opportunity for spiritual growth. Fellowship with others fosters an environment of mutual encouragement and accountability. This is a place where we learn to live for Christ, loving others as Jesus did. This can be practiced in many different ways but it all boils down to building relationships with others and being a familiar, friendly face within the community.
Some ways to foster fellowship include:
- Chatting with new people during coffee hour after church (in post-pandemic times) - Offering to pray for someone - Genuinely caring how those around you are doing - Sending encouragement cards - Phone calls/text messages to check in and provide encouragement
"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" - 1 Timothy 4:7