Spiritual Disciplines

What does it look like to make the best use of our time? We’ve only got 24 hours in the day, and most of us spend at least 6-8 of them sleeping. Work and caring for our families takes up a good chunk of the remainder, so there’s really not a lot left over when it's all said and done.

Usually, when we talk about abiding in Christ, we talk about all the things that we do. Those things are important—we can and should do everything we can to abide in Jesus day in and day out—but here lately, God has been reminding me of how much he does to help us abide. He does it for our good and for his glory. Because when we abide in Christ, we can't help but bear good, ripe fruit. Lots of it. And when our lives are both abundant and fruitful, we glorify him.

If it's hard to find time and space for a quiet time during the summer, give yourself some grace. Figure out what your bare minimum should be and do that as faithfully as you can. On the occasions when you have the luxury of more time, go a bit deeper. Know that God sees your longing heart, and you can rest assured that he will honor every single bit of effort that you put into seeking him.

The Christian life isn't a solitary life. No matter how hard you try, you can’t do it on your own...you need the community of faith. If you want to grow in godliness, you have to find a local church and go all in. Not just so you have a place to go on Sunday mornings, but so you can be a part of the body of Christ, a partnership of people who are committed to serving, worshiping, and doing life together for the sake of the gospel.

It's kind of hard to believe that God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, would deign to communicate with us. Yet, he has. And in prayer, he bends down low and listens close to hear what you have to say in return. Yes, he's the high king of heaven, but he's also a loving father who has adopted you and called you by name. He knows you, loves you, and cares about the details of your life. He wants to hear from you.

God has chosen, throughout time and history, to speak to us through his Word. If you want to abide in Jesus and become the person he intends for you to be, you must first listen to his words. So how do we do that? Through reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture day in and day out. Here are some tips to get started.

One of the best ways you can practice abiding in Jesus day in and day out is by setting aside a specific time every day as a “Quiet Time” to read scripture, pray, reflect, and worship. There are many, many different ways to do this. Mine has changed over time, and yours will too. Here are a few tips to help you establish a quiet time routine that works for you.

I'm not one to make big resolutions or set lots of goals at the beginning of each year. I'm slowing down a bit and spending the first few weeks of this new year reacquainting myself with the age old practices of spiritual disciplines. Reading the word. Spending time in prayer. Participating in worship. Lingering a little longer on the things that matter most. Slowly and steadily getting back into the rhythms of faithfulness. Will you join me?