Spiritual Disciplines for Deeper Intimacy With God and Spiritual GrowthSample

The Purpose of Spiritual Disciplines

As Christians, we desire to grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Our desire should be to have meaningful relationships with people around us, live in victory over sin, have hearts filled with peace and wisdom, experience the power of the Holy Spirit, and obey God's call. We should long to be involved in the mission Jesus gave to His church.

What is the purpose of spiritual disciplines? It is not a legalistic observation of a set of rules.

The purpose of spiritual disciplines is to bring you into the presence of God, where you can experience Him with your emotions rationally and where you open yourself up to His presence–to see and experience the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit with our spiritual eyes and learn to listen to His Voice and submit to His will.

Through the ages, Christians discovered several spiritual disciplines that helped them grow into deeper intimacy with Jesus, equipped and empowered them to bring God's salvation in Jesus to people and bring light and hope into the world's darkness, pain, lostness, and brokenness. These disciplines helped them in their personal devotion to God to grow in holiness, spiritual power, and wisdom.

Many people fear the concept of spiritual disciplines because they think it is just a set of rules that must be observed. However, the purpose of these disciplines is a closer personal walk with God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

These spiritual disciples become worthless and hindrances if it doesn't "produce" deeper intimacy with and reverence for Jesus, deeper love for others, and make us more obedient to God's commands.

Richard Foster lists some of the most helpful disciplines. The following are some of them:

1. Meditation on the word.

2. Prayer.

3. Fasting.

4. Study of the word but the reading of Christian books.

5. A life of simplicity.

6. Solitude.

7. Submission.

8. Service.

9. Confession of sin.

10. Worship.

11. Seeking God's guidance.

12. Celebration and thanksgiving.