Spiritual Disciplines (7 of 7) :: Accountability

When Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them in groups of two.  When Paul went on his missionary journeys he alway had a companion to walk alongside of.  The power of accountability and not walking alone is bigger than most of us realize.

Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, is also famous for his relentless pursuit of accountability.  He never traveled anywhere alone.

In our journey to honestly pursue God we need to be honest with other people.  Time to do the dangerous thing, drop the masks, break down the walls and let someone else walk alongside of you.

Don’t go it alone.

One of my favorite things that we do at theAlley is OnetoOne.  Simply put, two people meeting weekly to read the Bible, share life and dig deeper.

Truth is, I don’t care if you connect via ministry of the church, another church or a friend at work.  What we really want is not more people attached to the church  ministries but to Jesus.  Or as we like to say, we’d love to see more people in the word and in the word with each other.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

Spiritual Disciplines (6 of 7) :: Fast

Spiritual Disciplines (6 of 7) :: Fast

This is a little understood and probably the least practiced discipline.  In our quest to better understand it, I like the way pastor JR Vasser defines it.

Fasting is a way to take a break from the lesser things that have hijacked our hearts: things like TV, the internet, consuming relationships, books, fashion, shopping, sports and the most basic – food.

When we fast we deny our physical appetites in hopes that our spiritual ones might be awakened.  We rescue our hearts from being fixated on the passing pleasures of this life and we rivet our hearts on the eternal God, who alone can satisfy our souls.

Fasting is not just the abstinence from food but it is purposeful denial of something so that all attention and devotion may be turned to God.   It is an act of devotion and a beautiful depiction of surrender to our father God, “who alone can satisfy.”

In the Bible we find people fasting in times of war (Judges 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6), in prayer for loved ones who are sick (2 Samuel 12:16-23), when in danger (Ezra 8:21, Esther 4:3, 4:16), when seeking God’s forgiveness (Duet. 9:15-18, Jonah 3:4-10).  We even read about people fasting in prayer for their enemies.  (Psalm 35:11-13)

Fasting is often looked at as a burden but it is truly a gift.  A wonderful reminder of how feeble the gods of this world are and how we are ultimately in dependent upon an awesome, true and great God.

A few warnings and reminders as you consider fasting.

1) Be aware of any health risks and ease into more extreme fasts.

2) Fast for the right reason. Sometimes I see people fasting as a method of dieting or in a way to “bribe” God into doing their will.  Two things about that.  First of all, fasting is not about you, it is about focusing on God and His will.  Likely that will not be what you want, but it will be what you need.  Secondly, if food is an idol for you then that hunger is a great way to seek the Lord.  If your motivation is simply to diet.  Please find something else to fast.  Fast something close to your heart.  Fast something that you will miss. Fast something that will remind you that it is our living God whom we should be dependent on and not that.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

Funny how people often pick and choose what parts of the Bible they “like” and “don’t”.  For instance, we all know that the 10 commandments teach us not to murder, steal, lie and/or covet.  But are you also aware that one of the big 10 tells us to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”

God, quite literally, commands that we take a day off.  And can you think of a commandment that we more actively ignore than this one?

I know, I know, you are important and have important things to do.  I don’t understand you kids’ sports’ schedules, your work demands, your commitments.

Remember, this command is coming from God.  The very God of the universe who created the universe in 6 days.  And on the 7th day… he rested, sabbathed.

Now, before I simply convince you to take a day off.  Let me remind you what the heart of the Sabbath is about.  It is a time for renewal of your heart, mind, body and spirit by stopping to spend time in connection with your maker.

Some of us get the stopping part.  But, Sabbath is meant to be a reconnection with our maker, our King, our God.

This is a crucial part of practicing the other Spiritual Disciplines.  How can you repent if you’re not stopping and seeking God?  Your routine should include a true Sabbath.

As I write this, my wife and I are getting ready for a week long trip in a tropical place.  We will definitely stop, soak in the sun, enjoy a slower pace.  However, we are very excited about a time of Sabbath.  A time to seek our creator.  To pray to Him, listen to Him and read His word without distraction or noise from the rest of the world.

This is crucial to understanding that life is bigger than this world. That we are heavenly citizens and serve an eternal God.

May God bless you as you Sabbath in Him.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

When I was in college I took a J-term class on monasticism.  2 weeks of that class were spent in the classroom studying the subject matter and one week was spent actually living in a Monastery.

We did our best to mimic their life in every way.  We ate when they ate, prayed when they prayed and practiced many of their spiritual disciplines alongside of them including a day of silence.

The one monastic practice that I found most challenging initially and most rewarding later was that of meditation.  Maybe it was the hour of silence at 6:00 in the morning however the first few days were torture.  My greatest fear was that someone would catch me snoring.   However, after the first few days, what had been torturous became a gift.

The simple practice of quietly meditating on God’s word, silencing everything else and simply listening became then a beautiful and treasured experience.  Even now, a key piece of my message preparation is sitting in silent meditation and praying on God’s word.

Some of you reading this may be reacting right now.  The current stigma of meditation is that it is a new age spiritualism and that it opens the door to demonic influences.  Let me be crystal clear that the meditation I am speaking of is meditation on the Word of God alone and in prayer to Him.  It is NOT the seeking of a spirit guide.  It is NOT finding the center of myself or the god within.  It IS silencing all else so that I might reflect on, pray to and glorify the One True God.

In fact, the Scriptures speak to this…

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

So, following the Spiritual Disciplines laid out thus far.  Set up a routine and time.  Enter into confession and repentance before God.  And meditate on His word.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Discipline (3 of 7) :: Repentance

It’s not a popular topic to talk about.  It’s not an easy thing to do.  Yet, a foundational spiritual discipline is regular repentance.

The Hebrew word for repentance, tshuva, literally means “to turn.”   Repentance isn’t merely saying, “I am sorry.”  It is a an act of ultimate humility and a very turning of our hearts back to God.

Repentance is one of the most common themes in the Bible.  It was what God called the people of Israel to do and it was Jesus primary message, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.

Some think the Bible is book about perfect people.  The reality is that it is a book detailing the accounts of extremely messed up people.  In Jesus own genealogy there is a prostitute, an adulterer and a mountain of other dysfunction.  Those whom we hold up as holy were certainly not pure by their lifestyle.  Moses murdered a man, Abraham lied to protect himself.  Peter was brash. Rahab was a prostitute. David was an adulterer and murderer.  What these rocks of faith had in common was not a life of perfection but rather one of repentance.

We are not perfect people.  We are forgiven people.

1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Other posts on Spiritual Disciplines:

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) Routine