Spiritual
Disciplines for your Soul
(Specific
Disciplines Introduced Below)
William
Gaultiere, Ph.D.
Spiritual disciplines are for disciples of
Jesus. They're soul-full ways to be with Jesus in order to
become like Jesus, ways to progress as his apprentice in his kingdom of
the heavens. They're proven "ancient paths" (Jeremiah 6:16)
that great men and women of God over the ages have traveled with
God. They're ways that we examine our hearts to see where
we're at and how we need to grow in our trust of God (2 Corinthians
13:5) so that Christ can be formed in us (Galatians 4:19).
They're holy habits that help us to "keep in step with the Spirit"
(Galatians 5:25), "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18), and train ourselves to be godly (1
Timothy 4:7-8, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). They're ways to pray,
not because we should, but because our souls are so thirsty for more of
God! (Psalm 63:1-8).
Richard Foster describes the disciplines of the Christian life as
"means of grace" (Celebration of Discipline). Dallas Willard
teaches us that the secret of the disciplines is indirection: by
putting us in contact with God's grace and power the disciplines
transform us inwardly and enable us to do outwardly what we cannot do
on our own by direct effort (Spirit of the Disciplines). And
Henri Nouwen says that spiritual disciplines make open space for us to
listen to the voice of the Father who calls us "Beloved" (The
Disciplines of the Beloved, 1993 sermon).
Below are some of the spiritual disciplines that I practice in my own
"rhythm of life". A few I practice daily and the rest I use
weekly, monthly, or as needed. I recommend certain
disciplines like these for my clients in psychotherapy because in order
to heal emotionally and overcome struggles we must learn to rely on
God. And for ministers and Christian leaders, or anyone
wanting to grow spiritually, I suggest that these soul-full practices
become a rhythm of life because they help us to connect with God's
life. I teach these practices in spiritual formation
exercises for seminars and retreats. And in the weekly
"Christ's Ambassadors Spiritual Formation Group" that I lead I
introduce a new discipline each week and then we converse about our
experiences with God and pray for one another. (This group
was inspired by my experience of participating in a discipleship group
with Ray Ortlund and being privately mentored by him.)
For each discipline below I introduce the practice and how you can
implement it as part of your apprenticeship to Jesus. In each
article I discuss how Jesus followed (or may have followed) that
practice. Meditating on the gospel stories of how Jesus lived
his lilfe - especially when he was out of the public spotlight - is
especially fruitful. We can learn so much from studying and
following Jesus'
own rhythm of life!
You'll notice that the list is divided into two groups: the
"disciplines of abstinence" and the "disciplines of engagement",
according to Dallas Willard's model. We deny ourselves in
order to make space in our lives and hearts to connect with God and
others; we put off the old self to put on the new self. For
instance, we may spend time in silence and solitude in order meditate
on Scripture or we can observe the Sabbath (doing no work) so that we
can pray to God and play with friends.
Before you study or practice a discipline a word of clarification is in
order... More important than doing any of these disciplines
is having the vision for doing them in order to progress as Jesus'
disciple/student (as indicated at the top of the page).
Unfortunately, many Christians practice disciplines with little effect
because they lack this vision or their heart has not been shaped by
it. Ask God to lead you to the discipline(s) that you need at
this time in your life. And he may lead you to practice
something with him that's not on this list, as this is certainly not an
exhaustive list and there is no one-size-fits-all program of
implementing spiritual disciplines!
Now, along with the saints from the "great cloud of witnesses" who have
gone before us, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith... so that [we] will not grow weary and lose heart"
(Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV).
Let's listen to our Lord who says to us: "Come to me, all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV). Let's "walk and
work" with Jesus, watching how he practices the disciplines and
learning his "unforced rhythms of grace" - then we too will "learn to
live freely and lightly" (Matthew 11:29, MSG).
Rhythm of Life:
Jesus'
Rhythm of Life
Benedictine
Retreat
Disciplines of Abstinence (to put off the old
self):
Silence
& Solitude
Sabbath
Fasting
Secrecy
Submission
Stability
Service
Disciplines
of Engagement (to put on the new self):
Praying
the Scriptures
Praying
the Psalms
Study
Scripture
Memorization
Lectio
Divina
(Meditation)
Ignatian
Meditation
Thanksgiving
Worship
Examen
of Conscience (For Confession of Sin)
Examen
of Consciousness
Journaling
Breath
Prayers
Reading
the Classics
Playfulness
Spiritual
Conversations
Christ's Ambassadors Spiritual Formation
Group (Sample Studies):
Spiritual
Friendship
Practicing
the Presence of God
Spiritual
Direction
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