Beginning the new year is a great time to review what we do in our spiritual disciplines, and why. By “spiritual disciplines,” I mean practices that bring us near to God and promote godliness in our lives, such as reading God’s word, praying, fasting, fellowship, serving, etc.

It’s so easy for us to fall into a cruise control-like mode, where reading our Bibles and praying becomes routine, dry, uninspired. We can easily become more aware of how difficult the disciplines are than how much grace can come to us through them.

We need to be reminded of why we’re doing this: as Christians, we are called to live lives that prove the message of the gospel is true, that show that we have really been changed. Growing in Godliness means becoming more like Christ. That’s why Paul writes in Philippians 1:27,

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…”

This is serious business, becoming like Christ. But God also intends to meet us when we humble ourselves by drawing near to Him through the disciplines. This week, I want to remind you about the grace of God that comes to us through the spiritual disciplines, and I want to encourage you in your own practice of them.

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