Monday, February 06, 2006

Spiritual disciplines

Some thoughts from a recent holiness retreat led by Sandra Ryan…

God wants us to be free (Galatians 5:1). The goal of spiritual disciplines (eg. silence, fasting, fellowship) is to free us. But it will feel the opposite: a burden.

There are three things we need to do:
1. With the Holy Spirit’s help, to search our hearts for where we are weak (Psalm 139).
2. Identify a discipline(s) that will strengthen that area of our life.
3. Set clear, achievable goals.

The Spirit needs to do the searching or we will be overwhelmed with perceived failings and weaknesses. The difference between a professional and an amateur is that the professional knows his weaknesses and works to address them while an amateur focuses on what he is good at. Good is the enemy of the best. God calls us to be excellent.

No comments: