Spiritual discipline: The anchor to Holistic development

 Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you needed to fulfill specific requirements to achieve your lofty goals? The value of spiritual discipline is the most significant lesson I've learned thus far. We all know that consistency and discipline are necessary for success in anything we undertake. I now see that Christians, too, have to abide by the same guidelines. It has dawned on me lately that our enemy can gain entry into our lives if we lack spiritual discipline. There is no shield against our enemy when we lack spiritual discipline; occasionally, our self-detriment results from irregular fasting and prayer. The fact that many believers in the kingdom do not comprehend the concept of spiritual discipline has become highly apparent to me. It begs the question: What exactly is spiritual discipline? Spiritual discipline is developing healthy routines and habits that help one grow, bear fruit, remain steadfast, and conquer physical challenges while maintaining the flesh under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obeying God's word.

God is the one who brings about spiritual growth. It's an act of grace that alters and transforms you if you follow Jesus. However, this doesn't cancel out your role in the process—you still have a part to play, even though the Holy Spirit is at work in you. To hear the Spirit clearly and grow spiritually well, you must respond to His work in specific ways. Traditionally, these have been referred to as "spiritual disciplines." In times like these, where the coming of the Lord is evident, and in the realm of the Spirit, you realize our adversary is strategizing plans to pull us far away from our relationship with God. In an exchange with Timothy, a young pastor, Paul counsels him to "train yourself to be godly." In (1 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV) he says, "Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." It's instructive to note how spiritual and physical training are similar. My involvement in sports made me realize that a team's unmatched discipline is what sets them apart. Athletes are defined by specific disciplines that they must adhere to daily to notice any improvement in their performance. I now see that the same rules apply to my spiritual life; discipline in practicing routines like prayer, fasting, reading, and Bible meditation is essential for spiritual development. It will be challenging, just like anything else in life, but following these guidelines consistently will become essential.

In conclusion, please take stock of your spiritual discipline, identify the areas where you need work, and make an agenda to work on them. This is not the time to be careless. Even if you think you are fairly disciplined in every area, there is always room for improvement, as I can confidently tell you.