Spiritual Disciplines

of the Month

Each month we are going to have an opportunity to learn and practice a different spiritual discipline. Spiritual Disciplines are a means to receive God's grace in our lives. They help us grow deeper in our relationship with God. As we seek to draw closer to God through the practice of spiritual disciplines, our lives will be transformed.

Devotion

Living a life of daily devotion with God is difficult. This can be especially true for those of us who are busy, are not morning people, have irregular schedules and/or kids, and are hit with unplanned circumstances and events (morning traffic), etc…

Living a life that is devoted to God takes intentionality and discipline. It means stepping off the treadmill of life and stepping into the grace that is offered freely to us each day from God. Developing a routine that includes daily devotional time with God is one pathway towards our growing in God’s grace. This personal devotion time is one activity that helps to equip us for the day-to-day circumstances, problems, and opportunities we face. The question for us is, “How equipped do we want to be? And in whose strength do we want to go?”

“Spiritual Disciplines involve doing what we can do to receive from God the power [and grace] to do what we cannot.”
– Richard Foster

Practical suggestions/Challenge for the month

Create a devotional plan that is doable for you. Set realistic goals and pick a time and place that will work.
Allow for flexibility in when and how you spend your daily devotional time (prayer, meditation, study, fasting, reading or listening to scripture or daily devotionals).
Identify what it’s going to take for you. Is it giving up 15 minutes of your lunch hour? Getting up earlier? Turning off the TV or the ringer on your phone? Unplugging from the web? Share it with someone.
If you already have a devotional routine that works, what could enhance your time with God? Journaling? Study?

Other Things to Remember:

It is not always easy to incorporate a new spiritual discipline into your life.

Look at your calendar and choose a time for each day that will work with your life..

If you miss a day or two, just acknowledge it and begin again.

Partner with someone and help keep each other accountable.

It's not about perfection, it's about practice.

Enjoy the experience!

Helpful Hints:

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

-2 Peter 1:5-9 (The Message)

If you have any questions, want other suggestions, or would like to share your experience, call the office at (302) 378-7692 or connect@connectioncc.org.

For more information on the practice of Spiritual disciplines refer to “Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth,” by Robert Foster

100 W. Green Street
Middletown, DE 19709
Driving Directions

Phone: (302) 378-7692
E-mail: connect@connectioncc.org

Spiritual Disciplines

Devotion

Practical suggestions/Challenge for the month

Other Things to Remember:

Helpful Hints:

Study

Meditation

Celebration

Simplicity

Prayer

Confession

Fasting

Worship

Guidance

Submission

Solitude

Self-Examination

Study and Meditation

Service

Tithing

Journaling

Journaling 2

Fasting