How can I maintain spiritual vitality? - Spiritual Disciplines - TouchPoints

Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Every aspect of our lives is affected by the spiritual condition of our hearts. Because of the impact we can make on others, we must care for our inner lives. Otherwise, our weaknesses, wounds, and weariness will negatively affect those around us. And our flagging spiritual vitality will not be available to inspire and encourage them. The spiritual disciplines include ways we can care for our hearts and souls. They are not practiced to impress God, but rather to allow God to impress himself on us so that we, in turn, can make an impact on others. They are not achievements we perform for God, but ways we make ourselves available to him.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

An athlete trains over and over again so that fundamental actions become almost automatic. In the same way, spiritual disciplines need to be developed until they become spiritual reflexes that guard our hearts against temptation.

1 Timothy 4:7-10Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

Spiritual disciplines prepare you not only for this life, but also develop your heart and soul for eternity. Too many believers try to live the Christian life instead of training to live the Christian life. Trying always ends with failure; training uses failure to make progress. That’s why you must take time for spiritual development and conditioning.

Isaiah 1:12-17“When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”

It’s important to remember that the spiritual disciplines cannot take the place of a heart committed to God. They become hypocrisy when they aren’t motivated by our love for God, and we use them to display our “spirituality” to others.