Spiritual Disciplines

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Based upon the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

The purpose of the disciplines are not to change us themselves, but to put us in a position before God that allows Him to change us.

• Prayer - center of all the disciplines - perpetual communication with God.
• Meditation - ability to hear God's voice and obey it.
• Fasting - helps us focus our attention on Christ and keep Him the central focus. Also, helps us identify anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, and fear in our lives.
• Study - transforms our mind and gives us understanding by studying the Bible, circumstances, people, and books.

• Simplicity - helps remove materialism and status from our lives so we can seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness. Simplicity is an inward reality, that will effect our outward actions.
• Solitude - puts us in a position to practice some of the other disciplines. Removes noise and busyness from our lives in order to pursue a deeper life with Christ. Also gives us an increased sensitivity and compassion for others.
• Submission - gives us the freedom of not always get our own way.
• Service - Allows God to gives us humility.

• Confession - forces us to be honest which gives freedom from pride which in turn permits us to be human. It also gives accountability for a real change in our lives.
• Worship - ability to give God what He wants - praise and adorations, loving God above all else.
• Celebration - gives us the joy that is the oil that makes the other disciplines work. Without joy, the disciplines are drudgery, with joy they are pleasing.
• Guidance - gives us the ability to make intelligent, and well directed decisions. Often God will speak to or use the wisdom of someone else to guide us in a specific situation. It keeps us from living a lonely isolated life.