THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

“Do 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.” – 1 Timothy 4:7-8.

Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr. is an example of a player who exhibited a deep love and obsession for the game from a young age. He didn’t just like baseball; he lived, breathed, and ate baseball.   When you love something, no one has to tell you to engage in activities that cultivate your passion. I’m sure Ken Griffey never said, “I should work on my swing” or “I should read a book on hitting from one of the great hitters before me.”

If we love God, what activities, or maybe we should say, what spiritual practices do we love engaging in to cultivate our passion for God? If we sat and thought about it, we would probably come up with a list of “shoulds.” “ I should pray more,” and “I should probably spend more time in scripture.” Another one of us may say, “ I need to spend more time in solitude.” Still another person may pause for a second and say,”I should fast… well, maybe I should try the other ones first because that whole fasting thing seems complicated.”  A lot of us can point to at least one “should” when it comes to spiritual practices.

But rather than ask yourself not what you should do, ask yourself what spiritual practices will bring you closer to God. What practices cultivate your experience of intimacy with God? What helps you feel God is near? What practices fill you with a sense of His peace?

Jesus was committed to spiritual practices. He had a regular practice of spending time with His Father in prayer. As He prepared for a significant season of ministry, Jesus engaged in the spiritual practice of fasting. No doubt, Jesus engaged regularly in the practice of serving others. While Jesus engaged in spiritual practices, the relationship with His Father was the source of His strength, the foundation of His life, and the purpose of those practices.

This is what the practices are intended for us and why they are so important. They are conduits through which we can experience intimacy with God. The challenge for every believer is to identify the practices that nourish intimacy with God, regardless of the season of life or the circumstances we face. These exercises aren’t a quick fix for your spirituality. However, as you develop a habit of incorporating these practices, you will find yourself closer to God and more spiritually empowered.

Like Ken Griffey Jr., who trained himself to hone his baseball skills, spiritual practices enable us to do what we’re unable to do by our own effort. As we invest our energy into developing spiritual practices, we partner with God in our growth and transformation.

And that is so important.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to you to “train for godliness” as mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:7-8? What specific habits or practices can you implement to grow in this area?
2. How do you currently incorporate practices like prayer, fasting, simplicity, silence, solitude, service, giving, or scripture study into your life?