enjoying

jesus
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 enjoying

jesus

T W E LV E E X P E R I E N C E S T H A T

W I L L D R AW YO U C L O S E R
01 03
P.11 P.51
I N T R OD UC T ION I N TH E WO R D
Meditation & Study

02 04
P.31 P.69
ON OUR K N EES CHOOSING THE BEST
Prayer & Confession Fasting & Sabbath
05 07
P.91 P.131
ENJOYING THE QUIET L I V I N G G R ATE F U L
Silence & Solitude Service & Worship

06
P.111 APPX
P O UR IN G OUT S P I R I TUA L DI S C I P L I N E S | p. 8
Simplicity & Giving E N D N OTE S | p. 150
spiritual
disciplines
PRAYER

CONFESSION

MEDITATION

STUDY

FASTING

SABBATH REST

SILENCE

SOLITUDE

SIMPLICITY

GIVING

SERVICE

WORSHIP
 AL DISCIP
I TU LI
IR N
P wk.01
E
S
S

E if:equip
N S
JO U
S
YIN G JE
 D AY 0 1

WEEK 01

Introduction

We’re so glad you’ve decided to join us for Enjoying Jesus. This study is intended to be
immensely practical. The spiritual disciplines are where theology meets everyday life, but
only you can put them into practice in your life. Our hope is that you will try each of the
twelve disciplines we’ll cover. Going through the next six weeks as just another study may
be an enjoyable intellectual exercise, but the spiritual disciplines aren’t meant to simply be
studied. They are meant to be done. Their power is in their practice.

Structure of the Study

Each week we will look at two disciplines, spending two days on each. Every Friday,
we’ll review what we’ve learned and provide some practical tips for trying each of these
twelve disciplines. Some of the disciplines take more time than others. Take a look at your
calendar now to block off some time to reflect and to try these practices. We encourage you
to share with your family and loved ones about this study so they won’t be caught off guard
when the normal routine changes just a bit. Better yet, invite them to join you!

13
A Call to Community

While many of the disciplines we’ll discuss are meant to be practiced alone, the Christian life was never
intended to be lived in isolation. God calls us to community—to the local church. As you practice these
disciplines, we invite you to discuss what you’re learning with your local church body and with us on the
IF:Gathering app. Share with us! What did you learn? What worked for you? What didn’t? What would you
try differently next time? What have others shared with you about these disciplines? You never know who
you will inspire!

Practicing the Disciplines

Last, we want to give you a word of encouragement. Spiritual disciplines are also referred to as practices
because they take practice. Some of these will feel awkward, strange, or silly at first. Others will be instantly
refreshing. But all of them take time. These are simple, small things, but they are also slow. It takes time
to change habits and develop new ones. Don’t be discouraged if you try a discipline and it doesn’t go as
planned. Make notes. Talk to the Lord about it. Ask other believers what has worked well for them (and keep
in mind that even though something works well for someone else, it may not be the right choice for you).
Most importantly, try again. The Holy Spirit will continue to lead you and grow you through the practice of
spiritual disciplines.

We can’t wait to jump into the spiritual disciplines with you. For the remainder of this week, we’ll look at
spiritual disciplines in their biblical context and prepare our hearts for these new practices.

14
 REFLECT 01

What are you most looking forward to in learning about spiritual

disciplines?

Spending time with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

Growing in my relationship with them
Just being in His Presence

15
 D AY 0 2

WEEK 01

Why Practice
Spiritual Disciplines?

Have you ever sat through church listening to all the words, but still walked away feeling
disconnected? Have you picked up the Bible looking for encouragement, only to feel more
distant from the God it speaks of? Have you listened to someone else’s passionate prayer
and longed for the kind of closeness they seem to have with God?

The Problem

So often, we walk through life feeling isolated from God and others. We are a detached
people, longing for connection. But the busyness of life interrupts these thoughts—a
crisis erupts at work, the dishwasher breaks, a family member falls sick. Any longings for
something more get pushed back below the surface. We carry on with a limp—with a dull
ache that wonders if we were meant for more.

The name for what lies at the heart of this disconnected ache is sin. We long for what was
meant to be, because sin has broken our world. God created us for relationship. When
sin entered the world, our relationships with God, others, and ourselves shattered. We all

16
innately feel this—that something is deeply wrong with the world. We see it on the news and we experience
it in our relationships. From bitter arguments with our dearest loved ones to whispered prayers in the
night saying, “Where are you God?” We see how sin has corrupted every relationship in our lives—with
God and others.

The Solution
The time He takes to get alone with His Father early before daybreak to pray
(prayer, solitude, rest, silence, worship)
Reading scripture in the synagogue on the Sabbath (sabbath)
The good news is the
Fasting for story didn’t
40 days end starting
before there. When Jesus entered
His earthly ministryour world, He stepped into our brokenness.
(fasting)
Teaching in parables so the crowds could understand (simplicity, serving)
He destroyed the power
Healing of casting
the sick, sin on one
out dark afternoon
demons by hanging on the cross. And when He walked out of
(serving)
the tomb, He began the work of restoring what was meant to be. Because of Him, our longing for nearness
with God can now be fulfilled. We don’t have to feel disconnected.

Living Connected to Christ

When we place our faith in Christ, we trust that His work on the cross saves us from the penalty of our
sins. But how do we continually respond to Jesus after we place our faith in Him? It’s not through big,
showstopping acts of obedience that we reach out toward Him. As is often the way with God’s upside-down
economy, He uses the small, simple acts of faith to bring us into intimacy with Himself.

These small, simple acts are well known by God’s people throughout all generations. They are tried and
true practices called the spiritual disciplines. When God’s Word calls us to “pray without ceasing” (1
Thessalonians 5:17), to “meditate” on His Law (Joshua 1:8), and to “remember the Sabbath” (Exodus 20:8),
He is calling us to the spiritual disciplines. When we read about the heroes of our faith—such as David, who
fasted and sought silence (Psalm 69:10, 62:1)—we are actually reading the signposts pointing us toward a
deeper relationship with God.

Those who have followed this ancient path have found freedom from self and sin. And they have found joy—
the truest joy that only comes from enjoying Jesus. The more we enjoy Christ, they more we long to look like
Him. The more we grow like Him through the practice of the disciplines in cooperation with the Holy Spirit,
the more we enjoy Christ. It’s a beautiful, life-giving cycle.

Isn’t it just like God to make these practices available to all? They are not secret methods known to only a
few elite. They are on display throughout Scripture. They are the uncomplicated, simple things—prayer,
confession, meditation, study, fasting, rest, silence, solitude, simplicity, giving, serving, and worshiping.
They are the rhythms of a life of faith that, when practiced purposefully and routinely, lead us into the
abundant life God designed us for. They are the path to enjoying Jesus.

17 Type text here

 REFLECT 02

How do you believe the practice of spiritual disciplines can lead to

spiritual growth?
The time He
I believe preacticing takes
each of to get alone
these with
spiritual His Father
disciplines earlyus
brings before daybreak
into the presenceto pray (prayer)
of God.
When we Reading scripture
intentionally in the
get into synagogue
God's presenceon onthe Sabbath
a daily (sabbath,
basis, we becomesolitude)
start to become
conformed Fasting
to the for 40 days
image of ourbefore starting
Lord and His Jesus
Savior, earthlyChrist.
ministry (fasting)
Teaching in parables so the crowds could understand (simplicity, serving)

Where have you observed spiritual disciplines in Scripture?

David, Esther, Paul, Daniel, Church at Philippi, believers in Acts

18
 D AY 0 3

WEEK 01

Jesus & The Disciplines

Jesus said to His followers, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew
11:28–30 esv).

Aren’t these the most inviting words you’ve ever read? In our hectic world, Jesus promises
rest. It’s not just physical rest, but rest for our souls. He invites us to come to Him and
learn from Him because he is “gentle and lowly in heart.”

Living Like Christ

We often think we learn from Jesus only by studying His formal teachings—from His
profound parables to the breathtaking Sermon on the Type textBut
Mount. here
those moments—the
big, life-changing mountaintop events—made up just a tiny portion of His life. We have
so much to learn from the everyday, humdrum seasons of His life. Scripture isn’t silent on
those times, and for good reason.  

19
Jesus lived much like us for the vast majority of His life. He grew up in a family and in a small town, with all
the conflict and messiness that can bring. He had chores and obeyed His parents (Luke 2:51). He listened to
teachers (Luke 2:46). He learned a trade and worked with others. He ate meals with family and friends. He
likely went to sleep after a hard day’s work with a sore back and blisters on His hands.

And yet, through all of it, Jesus chose to live in a way that maintained nearness with God the Father. We see
throughout the Gospels how Jesus incorporated the spiritual disciplines into His daily life. He chose to seek
silence and solitude, stepping away from the crowds to pray (Luke 5:16, Matthew 14:23). He fasted to draw
near to the Father (Matthew 4:2). He honored the Sabbath as a day of rest (Mark 2:27).

Following Christ in the Everyday

Jesus doesn’t call us to simply put His teaching into practice by our own willpower. If we try to do that, we
will fail. We will be utterly unprepared to turn the other cheek or to love our enemy if we haven’t spent time
with Christ in the unseen, everyday things. As Dallas Willard puts it, “In this truth lies the secret of the easy
yoke: the secret involves living as he lived in the entirety of his life—adopting his overall life-style. Following
‘in his steps’ cannot be equated with behaving as he did when he was ‘on the spot.’ To live as Christ lived is
to live as he did all his life.” 1

Jesus invites us to a different life. He calls us to the small, everyday things—prayer, silence, solitude,
sabbath—because in doing them, we find the rest He speaks of. We learn to enjoy Jesus in the day-to-day
and find that the life He has called us to, no matter what it brings, will feel easy and light.

20
 REFLECT 03

How do you see Jesus practice the spiritual disciplines in the

Bible?
The time He takes to get alone with His Father early before daybreak to pray
(prayer, solitude, rest, serving, worshiping)

Reading scripture in the synagogue on the Sabbath (sabbath)

Fasting for 40 days before starting His earthly ministry (fasting)

Teaching in parables so the crowds could understand (simplicity, serving)

Healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead (serving)

How do you imagine that practice of spiritual disciplines in the

quiet moments prepares us for bigger, life-changing moments?

Time spent alone with God, He can prepare our hearts and minds for things to come
Surrendering our lives to Him and meditating on scripture, the Holy Spirit can lead, guide,
and direct us and bring back to our remembrance what God has taught us and told us in
those quiet moments with Him

21
 Why Do We
Need Spiritual
Disciplines?

day four of week one of

INTRODUCTION E N J OY I N G J E S U S

22
Yesterday we noted that Jesus, the perfect Son of God, practiced the spiritual disciplines throughout His life.
If Jesus, who never sinned, incorporated the disciplines as a way of life, how much more do we need them?

The Lord knows we are a forgetful people. We forget what He has done for us, both the big and small things.
So when we face a new challenge, we often fall back into fear. We forget the incomprehensible magnitude
of His grace, His love, and His patience toward us. But God meets us where we are. Throughout Scripture,
He encourages us to remember. That’s partly what spiritual disciplines do; they help us remember by
incorporating intentional moments into our daily lives.

A Call to Remember

In Deuteronomy 5:15, while explaining the Ten Commandments, Moses told Israel, “You shall remember
that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty
hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day” (esv).
For Israel, remembering the Sabbath was directly linked with remembering what God had done for them
in the past.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He assured His disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember
His words. He told them, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach
you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 esv). Jesus knew we
would need help remembering what He’d taught us, and through this verse He reassures us that the Holy
Spirit will be there to help us too.

So how do the spiritual disciplines relate to remembering? They help us establish rhythms of life that regularly
remember the Lord. These practices create routine times in our daily lives in which we can reconnect with
Him and recall all He is doing and has done for us. By remembering, we grow in our faith. And, over time,
we start to look more and more like Christ. The more we look like Him, the more we long for Him. In the
simplest terms, the spiritual disciplines are how we remember and enjoy Jesus.

Proven Spiritual Practices

Generations of believers who have come before us have handed down these tried and true practices known
as spiritual disciplines. The twelve we will study are not new fads or the latest trends. They are ancient but
simple traditions that help us remember God and grow spiritually. We see them throughout both Scripture
and church history. Each discipline can look slightly different in various cultures and time periods, but the
basics remain the same. Those who have come before us point to these practices as the way to know God
and enjoy Him.

23
If we are brave enough to follow in their footsteps, we’ll find the spiritual disciplines are simply tools—but
powerful tools nonetheless. These acts themselves don’t make us holy; only the Holy Spirit can make us
look more like Jesus. But practices such as prayer, fasting, and solitude (among others) help us remove the
distractions of our everyday lives, allowing us to hear the Spirit and obey Him.

The Ancient Path to Abundant Life

Jesus told His disciples that He came so we may “have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). If you were
to take a good, hard look at your life, would you say you’re experiencing the abundant life, the easy and light
yoke Jesus spoke of (Matthew 11:30)? Would you say that no matter your circumstances, you have a deep-
seated joy in Christ? Perhaps you’ve tried all the latest techniques—the list-making, the goal-setting, the
calendaring system. While these may help you accomplish tasks, none of them can bring you the freedom
and joy you long for in your soul. Instead, we invite you to try something simple and ancient: the spiritual
practices that followers of Christ have pointed to for thousands of years as the way to know Him better and
enjoy Him more.   

REFLECT 04

Do you ever struggle to remember what God has done for you?
What helps you remember? Sharing the story of what He brought me through
Journaling would help too

24
HAVE

LIFE

HAVE IT

ABUNDANTLY

25
 D AY 0 5

WEEK 01

Type text here

Preparing to Study
the Disciplines

Before we jump into the specific spiritual disciplines, let’s take some time to prepare
ourselves. Perhaps you’re already familiar with spiritual disciplines and this study will be
a refresher course. Maybe you’ve never heard of them before. Either way, it’s wise to take
a moment to assess where each of us stands we begin.

Disciplines Covered in Enjoying Jesus

The twelve disciplines we’ll study are: prayer, confession, meditation, study, fasting,
sabbath, silence, solitude, simplicity, giving, service, and worship. Some of these, like
prayer and worship, will probably feel more familiar to you. Others, like meditation and
silence, may surprise you. Which of these practices are you instantly drawn to? Are there
any that make you hesitate? Perhaps you’ve already tried a few before. Take a few minutes
to think through each of our twelve disciplines and list any assumptions or preconceived
ideas you may have. Ask the Lord to help you begin the study with an open mind and heart
to see how these practices can help you grow spiritually.

Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to begin this study with an open mind and an open heart,
so I can see how these practices can help me grow spiritually.

Lord Jesus, remind me that these disciplines are to help me grow closer to You, enjoy my
relationship with You even more, and conform to Your image and likeness.

Holy Spirit, I give you full authority to teach what I need to know, to lead, guide and direct me in
the Truth of these spiritual disciplines and26help me to make them a regular, part of my daily life.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

 What has the Lord been teaching me? To speak w/words that edify, build up, add grace to the hearer
Where has the Lord been asking me to grow? In compassion, discerning His voice
How would I describe my spiritual life now? Growing
By the end of the study, I would like to see evidence of my relaitonship with the Lord growing
1) I am more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's teaching, leading, guiding, directing;
2) I am clearly able to discern God's voice speaking to me and instantly obey His instructions
3) I am applying these 12 disciplines in my life daily
4) I spend more time in God's presence, in God's Word, in prayer & intercession
5) I am discipling the young people you put in my life
Reflecting Before Beginning

Practicing each of the disciplines will reveal insights into your own spiritual walk. As we begin, take a few
moments to assess your spiritual life as it is now. What has the Lord been teaching you the past few months?
Where has He been asking you to grow? How would you describe your spiritual life right now? By the time
we reach the end of the study, what would you like to see happen in your relationship with God?

As we’ve discussed, spiritual disciplines are tools that help us put ourselves in a position to be more open and
available to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. The disciplines don’t save us—only Jesus’ work on the cross
can save us. They don’t make us any holier on their own—only the Holy Spirit makes us holy.

A Word of Caution

Whenever we turn our attention to a more practical aspect of our faith, we face the danger of beginning to
take pride in our actions. If you start to feel pride over checking off each discipline or even guilt for not doing
the discipline “correctly,” it’s time to pause. Any thoughts along those lines need to be taken before the Lord
in prayer. Ask Him to remind you that the disciplines are intended to help you grow closer and enjoy Him—
not fulfill any sort of spiritual checklist.

Spend the next few minutes asking the Lord to prepare you for the next few weeks. Ask Him to help you
be attentive to His prompting as you learn about each discipline. There may be some moments that feel
uncomfortable. That’s okay. Most of us aren’t used to intentionally sitting in silence, for instance. But there
are treasures to be found in those moments.

A Quieter, Simpler Way

Over the next few weeks, we’ll see how the spiritual disciplines offer us a different approach to daily life. They
offer us a quieter, simpler way. These are the small things that others rarely see. But these things will have
a tremendous impact on our walk with God, and that peace will become apparent to others in our outward
lives. When we are enjoying Jesus fully and living the abundant life He has called us to, we will be changed—
and others won’t be able to help but notice.

Father, in the name of Jesus, please prepare me for the next few weeks.

Help me to begin this study with an open mind and an open heart, and may these practices can help me grow spiritually.

Help me to be attentive to Your promptings as I learn each discipline specially in any moments that may be uncomfortable.

Lord Jesus, remind me that these disciplines are to help me grow closer to You, enjoy my relationship with You even more,
and conform to Your image and likeness.

Holy Spirit, I give you full authority to teach what I need to know, to lead, guide and direct me inthe Truth of these spiritual disciplines and help

In Jesus' name. Amen.

27
 REFLECT 05

What are your initial impressions of the twelve spiritual disciplines

we’ll be studying?

Looks like disciplines I (every Christian) should be doing on a daily basis

Looks like a way to have a closer relationship w/Jesus

What do you hope to gain through this study?

A way to better intimacy with my Savior, creator, Lord
Get my life organized, focused and disciplined

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29
On
Our
Knees
week 02
 D AY 0 1

WEEK 02

Prayer

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set

eternity in the human heart.
- Ecclesiastes 3:11

The Longing

You feel the ache at the most unexpected moments: when you wash the last dish after
dinner and realize you’ll do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next day; when you
stare out the window at a bird winging toward the sunset and your own heart seems to take
flight; or when you leave the nursing home and can think of nothing but what the future
holds and how you will pay for it. It’s the ache of a memory, planted deep in our souls, of a
different world—a better, holier, happier world where no illness strikes, no tear falls, and
death is but an old recollection. It is eternity lodged in each human heart. It is the deep
unquenchable homesickness for God.

Why Pray?

Our souls thirst for God. Every human soul has an eternal need to walk and talk with his
or her Creator. God’s story on this earth starts with people walking and talking with Him

33
in Paradise on earth, and it ends with people walking and talking with Him in paradise in heaven. In the
middle, the story shows Jesus walking and talking with people in everyday life. Prayer is God’s prescription
that gives His people a way to commune with Him today.

What Is Prayer?

Prayer is any word or thought directed in faith toward God. The Greek word for prayer (proseuche) implies
petition: an earnest request or entreaty to God. Think of the simplest prayer imaginable: “Jesus!” or “Help!”
or “Thank You.” That is prayer. The words may ring with joy or drip with sorrow, they may rise on the wings
of hope or fall into the pit of despair. Wherever they come from, they are all prayer, and God hears them. The
book of Psalms was Israel’s prayer book and hymnal. Flip through its pages and see the wide expression of
human emotion directed toward God in every style conceivable. Almost a third of the Psalms involves sorrow
or lament. All are good. All meaningful. All heard and recorded and appropriately responded to by the Lord.

How to Pray

“Teach us to pray,” Jesus’ disciples pleaded (Luke 11:1). They had seen the Pharisees praying aloud with
excruciating detail and self-righteous piety. It seemed likely to the fishermen and farmers following Jesus
that only a select few—the priests and Levites and prophets—could reach God through prayer. Not so, said
Jesus. Instead, we are to pray “Our Father,” like a child speaking to her Daddy (v. 2). The One who formed
our ears hears us; the One who formed our eyes already sees. Prayer is not dependent on magical words,
repetitive phrases, or self-righteous platitudes. At its heart, prayer is simply a child talking with our “Father
in heaven . . .”

If you feel muddled about prayer, just think back to what it is like to be a child. Today, this very moment, lay
aside whatever formulas confuse or condemn you and run like a child toward the porch light of heaven. You
needn’t bring anything. Just get on your knees and go home, and God will meet you.

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 REFLECT 01

Have you ever struggled to pray?

What helps you remember that prayer is simply talking to God?

35
 Prayer
Part Two
day two of week two of
CONFESSION & E N J OY I N G
P R AY E R JESUS

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 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- Matthew 6:9–10 esv

When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost connection with God and sent the whole blessed creation into a curse-
fueled spin. To fight this ruin we sometimes hold tight to control. The long to-do lists (that never completely
get checked); the exalted expectations for a family vacation (gone wrong from the start when the baby pukes
or the engine sputters); the Pinterest boards full of what-ifs and somedays (though we fear they’re will-nots
and nevers); and the blinding rage when traffic causes us to miss a meeting that promised to balance the
whole tilting world on its paper-thin shoulders. The open secret seems hard to swallow: the more we try to
reverse the curse, the harder we seem to fall.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Curse

It’s easy to focus on our own accomplishments and forget about God. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar
had seen God deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Yet when Nebuchadnezzar
surveyed his kingdom, he still declared himself ruler of all that he saw. Immediately a voice from heaven
cursed him with insanity because of his impudence. Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and became like a wild
beast in the field. But at the end of seven years he lifted his eyes to heaven and his sanity returned (Daniel 4).

The lesson stings: we are only in our right minds when we acknowledge that God is God and we are not.
Prayer reminds us that only One Lord is sovereign, and His name isn’t spelled with our initials. “I lift up my
eyes . . . Where does my help come from?” asked the psalmist. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of
heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1).

Lifting Our Eyes

In the 1600s a French soldier named Nicholas lifted his eyes to a leafless tree in winter and realized that
it awaited only the changing season for God to bring it bursting into bud. The realization of God’s good
sovereignty so overwhelmed him that he vowed to become a monk. In a monastery in Paris he changed
his name to Brother Lawrence. It was this Lawrence whose simple practice of acknowledging God in the
humdrum activities of life—peeling potatoes, washing dishes, feeding the chickens—revolutionized the way
he thought about prayer. He could “practice the Presence of God” all the time in the everyday activities of life.

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“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with
God,” said Brother Lawrence in what became the beloved classic work, The Practice of the Presence of God.
“Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.”2

All of life is holy. Next time you find yourself up to the elbows in a sudsy sink, breathe out, “Lord, wash my
heart clean each day the same way I scrub these dishes.” Or if you’re stuck in traffic, instead of drumming
your fingers on the steering wheel or glancing at your watch, look around at the other vehicles and whisper
a prayer for your hapless fellow travelers. Waking or sleeping, peeling potatoes or running a meeting,
flying high or stalled in the break-down lane with a flat, use prayer to turn every moment into a walk in the
garden with God.

REFLECT 02

What are some routine moments during your day when you can
“lift your eyes” and connect with God through prayer?

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 D AY 0 3

WEEK 02

Confession

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled
with your brother; then come and offer your gift.
- Matthew 5:23-24

Have you ever sat crying after an argument with a loved one over something that seemed
minor on the surface but triggered catastrophic feelings? The living room paint color that
launches a litany of all the poor decisions you’ve ever made. A missed family reunion taken
personally. A child’s tears over a forgotten recital, lost in the blitz of holiday preparations.
The harsh word spoken at a moment of vulnerability to produce maximum damage.
Whatever it is, one thing’s certain: we hurt each other, and hurt begets hurt.

The Barrier Between Us

Sin creates barriers in relationships, and it has from the very beginning. When Adam and
Eve sinned in the garden, they suddenly felt ashamed and afraid. They covered themselves
with fig leaves and hid behind trees when they heard the sound of God walking in the cool
of the day. What had once been a paradise of perfect relationships instantly shattered into
a million broken pieces. Adam and Eve felt cut off from God, and in their haste to blame
each other, their own relationship fell apart (Genesis 3).

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We all know what that feels like. Whether major transgressions or tiny infractions, our sins build walls that
keep us isolated from our Savior and other people.

Recognizing Our Brokenness

Scottish minister Oswald Chambers, author of the popular devotional My Utmost for His Highest, once went
through a four-year period of depression and isolation that he called his “dark night of the soul.” He entered
a wilderness of self-hatred and despair and felt completely cut off from God and from other people.

At the end of four years, Chambers felt a burning conviction to confess his lack of the Holy Spirit. He stood
up in the small chapel where he had often preached, confessed his spiritual deadness and lack of love, then
quickly sat down. A leader from the League of Prayer said, “That is very good of our brother, he has spoken
like that as an example to the rest of you.” Chambers stood up again—he later said the second time was a
hundred times worse than the first—and said, “I got up for no one’s sake, I got up for my own sake.” From
that day forward, the Spirit filled him with power. 3

“A child of the light confesses instantly,” wrote Chambers later, “and stands bared before God; a child of the
darkness says—’Oh, I can explain that away.’ When once the light breaks and the conviction of wrong comes,
be a child of the light, and confess, and God will deal with what is wrong; if you vindicate yourself, you prove
yourself to be a child of the darkness.” 4

The Solution

God has one prescription in two doses for those suffering from barriers erected by sin. The first step is for
us to walk in the light by confessing our sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive
us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). There are no elaborate protocols required
for confession. The Greek word for confession in this verse, (homologeo) simply means to concede that
something is factual or true—to admit that we did something wrong.

The second step, which is really already done, is that God deals justly with our transgressions by placing the
blame on Jesus and accepting His perfect sacrifice for our sins. “Without the shedding of blood there is no
forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Adam and Eve discovered this. God exposed their sin to the light, removed
their pitiful fig leaves, then clothed them with animal skins—animals slain on their behalf as a foreshadowing
of the sacrifice that would be needed for their sins.

It is a wonderful thing that Jesus is our perfect Sacrifice who enables God to forgive our sins, tear down the
barriers to relationship, and bring us out into the shining sun of His presence. Confession opens us up to
enjoy freedom in relationship with Him—no hiding behind trees, no fig-leaf togas of shameful deception.

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Confession enables us to walk openly in the garden with our Lord, enjoying His company and talking with
Him as friend with Friend.

REFLECT 03

What holds us back from confessing our sins when we know God
will forgive us?

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 D AY 0 4

WEEK 02

Confession Pt.2

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning

all day long . . . I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover
up my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the
Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
- Psalm 32:3, 5 ( esv )

Few burdens are so heavy as the guilt of unconfessed sin. Can you think of a time your
sun was extinguished by the clouds of secret sin? The loneliness of feeling yourself guilty,
condemned, a prisoner in a cell of your own fashioning? Turn one way and you feel rock;
turn another and there is nothing but stone. No one hears your cries. You are all alone.

A Rock and a Hard Place

Evans Monsignac knows something about being caught between a rock and a hard place.
He was a poor vendor selling rice and oil in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in January 2010 when
his world came tumbling down. “As soon as I finished selling the last batch of rice the
earthquake happened,” he later told a Telegraph reporter. “Suddenly things were just
flying all over and flattening me. I said ‘Oh Lord, I’m dying.’ I tried to turn to the right, but
I was pinned down by rock, I tried to turn to the left, I was pinned down with rock. It was

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dark all the time. Every time I came out of consciousness I prayed, I prayed that God would rescue me, give
me life.” For the next twenty-seven days he survived by sipping sewage leaking through the shattered slabs of
concrete. When a rescuer finally discovered Monsignac, he was dehydrated, babbling incoherently, and had
lost sixty pounds. He is believed to be the world’s longest-lasting earthquake survivor. 5

Monsignac’s experience surviving the earthquake paints a vivid picture of what we feel when hiding our
sin. If we feel like an earthquake has shattered the world around us—if we feel like slabs of concrete have
compressed our shoulders—it may be time to reflect on whether the weight comes from unconfessed sin.
King David referred to his guilt as the hand of God crushing his bones, sapping his strength as in the heat of
summer (Psalm 32).

Choosing to See God’s Grace

In the depths of our sin and guilt, confession can seem like the last thing we want to do. The hardness and
deceitfulness of sin can make us feel we’d rather chew glass than bring our sin into the light. Sin blinds us to
the grace of God. We’d rather sip sewage seeping through the cracks than turn to the fountain of life. But the
only way to remove our crushing guilt is to turn to the Lord and cry out to Him in confession and repentance.
The moment we do, God moves heaven and earth to lift the guilt from our shoulders and bring us out into
sunlight and renewed joy.

Because Jesus took the weight of the world’s sin onto His shoulders, we can be free. Because He endured
the psychological pain of feeling forsaken by God, we can be restored to relationship with our heavenly
Father who promises never to leave us or forsake us. We can return to the land of the living, no matter how
significantly our sin measures on the Richter scale.

Finding Freedom

Evans Monsignac could barely recall his rescue. “The only thing I can remember is thinking ‘I’m free, I’m not
dying,’” he told a reporter. His miraculous rescue showed him that nothing is impossible with God. “Those
who are sick should have the courage to live and pray to God,” he said. “And those who are healthy need to
cherish their life and to pray.” 6

Just as rescuers lifted Evans Monsignac from the rubble of an earthquake, we too are freed from the burden
of guilt through confession. The very thing we thought might kill us—confessing our sins—in fact brings us
joy and peace. It makes us see the goodness of God’s ways and helps us say like Evans Monsignac, “I’m free,
I’m not dying.”

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 REFLECT 04

How have you experienced the freedom of confession in your

life?

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 A N D YO U

F O R G AV E T H E

INIQUITY

OF MY SIN

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 D AY 0 5

WEEK 02

Review & Apply

This week we’ve looked at two disciplines we often struggle with — prayer and confession.
We’ve seen how God intends both of these practices to bring us into freedom and
communion with Himself.

Prayer

Prayer is not so much a formula as it is a state of mindfulness: acknowledging the God-

ness of God and our dependence on Him for every little thing in everyday life. Our souls are
built for relationship with God—to walk with Him and talk with Him. As Saint Augustine
prayed, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.”7

Consider the following statement about prayer:

“He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of
adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at
other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the
midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him

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during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him.
One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”

—Brother Lawrence 8

Today, what would practicing the presence of God look like for you at home, at work, at school, or out in
nature? Try talking with God as you would talk to a friend, without an elaborate warm-up or formulaic
phrases. Can you feel His presence making each moment sacred? Let God wash dishes with you, take out the
trash, prepare a Powerpoint presentation, or go to the market. Talk with Him about the common stuff of life,
then listen for His voice. He is nearer to us than we think.

Confession

Confession brings life. It restores us to relationship with God and others, and it frees us from the crushing
burden of guilt by reminding us that we are forgiven sinners.

Take a few moments today to consider whether sin has broken any of your relationships. Then step on a
spiritual scale and see if you are carrying any extra pounds of guilt. Can you feel it? God invites you to talk
with Him about those matters, to turn away from hidden sins, and to cast those weights upon Him. He has
promised that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

The moment we confess, Jesus comes alongside us and our relationship with God is restored. Is there a
person to whom you need to confess? Matthew 5:23–24 says we need to deal with relational brokenness
before we can expect to walk freely with the Lord. “As far as it depends on you, try to live at peace with
everyone” (Romans 12:18). Confess today and feel the weight drop and your shoulders lift.

Prayer and Confession Together

The disciplines of prayer and confession help us cultivate a relationship with God (prayer) and maintain
joyful communion with God (confession). They work together to let us walk and talk with Jesus in daily
life, turning the mundane and the difficult into a garden of intimacy with our Lord. Practice these spiritual
disciplines to feel the freedom and joy of renewed relationship with your Creator.

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 REFLECT 05

What have you learned about prayer and confession this week?

Why do you think these disciplines are important to your

spiritual life?

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49
50
WORD
IN THE

week 03 • meditation & study

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 D AY 0 1

WEEK 03

Meditation

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will
hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’
- Isaiah 30:21

Have you ever followed the promptings of your GPS and wished you had a life app just like
it—a soothing voice telling you which way to go when you face difficult decisions? “Siri,
should I marry this person or shouldn’t I? Should I buy this house or that house? Crotchety
old Aunt Jane is in town and expects to stay at my home. Should I tell her the kids are sick
(they aren’t) or shouldn’t I?” How can we upgrade and find a little more specific wisdom
and direction?

The Distraction

We live in a distracted culture. Cars come with touch screens on the console; elliptical
machines at the gym sport phone docking stations; and doctors’ waiting rooms are filled
with screaming children, ringing phones, and the day’s celebrity gossip assaulting us

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from a flat-screen TV. Multitasking is our new moral imperative. In this hubbub we can ask Siri for driving
directions, but have we forgotten the greatest questions of all: Who are we and why are we here?

In a world drowning in information, wisdom can be hard to find. We read books, blogs, and articles. We
call Mom. We Google it. We read the Bible, but the Bible doesn’t tell us whether to homeschool or send the
kids to public school. We envy women like Corrie ten Boom or Ann Voskamp who seem so confident in their
decisions and so capable in life. If only there were an app for that.

There is.

The Answer for Distraction

In a distracted culture where breadth is everything and depth is lost, meditation is the application that gives
us the breathing room and the proper focus to gain both wisdom and peace. “You will keep in perfect peace
the one whose mind is steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

The Hebrew word for meditation in the New International Version of Psalm 19:14—“May the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord”—carries the idea of resounding
music or musings. God views our fixed attention on Himself and His Word as a beautiful act of worship.

Meditation involves two actions: (1) emptying yourself of the noise and distraction of the world and (2)
filling yourself with the person and Word of God. This is unlike the Eastern concept of meditation, which
aims mostly at emptying oneself of oneself in order to achieve oneness with the universe. Instead, Christian
meditation actually makes us more fully alive, complete, and truly us as we contemplate God as He truly is.
A Christian’s identity is a mysterious combination of unique personality and the overarching image of God.
So we are brought more into our own right minds as we gain the mind of Christ.

Meditation and Prayer

Meditation is sister to prayer because both seek a divine encounter. But where prayer is dialogue with
God, meditation is contemplating God. It will take some time to empty ourselves of the chaos and to come
quietly into the presence of the Almighty. In our busy lives, it might feel hard to conjure up empty minutes
and hours. For those who can’t open an entire afternoon, a practical discipline for meditation might be to
reserve a twenty-minute commute for time to ponder God. Or instead of thumbing through magazines at the
dentist’s office or refreshing our Facebook feed while waiting for the kids’ soccer practice to end, we could
spend those few minutes in devoted attention to a quality of God or a promise in His Word.

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Meditation focuses its lens on God and then follows His gaze and listens to His instructions about the most
common things of life. Meditation is contemplation that leads to revelation, which in turn leads to wise
application. It starts with a disciplined separation from the world only to return to the world filled with
obedience toward God’s love and His vision for the people and things that surround us. As Richard Foster
says in Celebration of Discipline, “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and
obey His word.” 9

The next time you need wisdom, open the app of meditation.

REFLECT 01

What are ways you could incorporate mediation into your routine?

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 D AY 0 2

WEEK 03

Meditation Pt. 2

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the
way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight
is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That
person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in
season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers.

- Psalm 1:1–3

Joanna Gaines has more than three million followers on Instagram. Popular Pinterest
boards are full of her design ideas. The HGTV show Fixer Upper, which features Joanna
and her husband Chip as they remodel the worst homes in the best neighborhoods, is a
smash hit. Why is that? Is remodeling and renovating homes really so riveting? Perhaps.
But isn’t it really because we all love a Cinderella story? Don’t we all feel a little bit like a
fixer-upper ourselves, in need of new siding, new paint, and sometimes a new foundation?
We long for the day when someone will come and put in the time and work to transform us
into the people we were created to be.

Longing for Goodness

It is not wrong to wish that we were someplace better or that we were someone better.
Our souls are homesick for prosperity. Not prosperity in the slick sense of shiny cars or
stacks of hundred-dollar bills, but a richness of life that includes health, balance, whole

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relationships with God and people, clear purpose, meaningful work, and freedom from fear. A life with
Christ in God. Heaven on earth.

While God never promises us full prosperity in this life, the discipline of meditation enables us to taste
heaven in the here and now. It does this both experientially and practically. Experientially, we actually
feel our hearts “strangely warmed,” as John Wesley famously wrote of his conversion experience.10 And
practically, it changes us as we incorporate wise practices and Christlike behavior into our lives as a result of
spending time in God’s presence and marinating in His Word.

Looking like Christ

Have you ever noticed that people who spend a lot of time together sometimes end up looking or sounding
like each other? That can happen to old married couples or lifelong friends, and it can happen to Christians
who spend time with Jesus. That’s why they were first called “Christians,” that is, “little Christs”—because
people who saw believers in the first century realized that they walked and talked like Jesus.

Do you want to become more like Christ? Then practice the spiritual discipline of meditation.

Practicing Meditation

Remember that Christian meditation involves two actions: (1) emptying yourself of the noise and distraction
of the world, and (2), filling yourself with the person and Word of God. Unlike the mindless oms of other
types of meditation, Christian meditation is highly mindful and clearly focused on the person and words of
God. To meditate well, we can pick a particular quality or promise of God and turn it over and over in our
minds, seeing the different facets of truth as we consider it first from one angle and then from another.

Try it for yourself. Read Psalm 1 and reflect on the first two verses.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the
seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (esv)

Consider the first verse. Are there patterns of thinking or behavior that you imitate from the world? What
things might you need to “put off” from the world in order to “put on” Christ (Romans 13:14)? Now consider

57
the second verse. Think of something in which you delight. It could be a hobby like scrapbooking or small
engine repair; it could be reading travel books or flipping houses; it could be a spouse or a child or a favorite
cat; or it could be an activity like hiking or shopping. When you’re doing that delightful thing—or spending
time with that delightful person—doesn’t time fly? When it’s over, you can’t wait to do it again. What steps
could you take today to delight like that in God’s person and in His Word?

Continue in this vein as you meditate on God’s Word, savoring it one bit at a time and fully absorbing what
it has to tell you.

REFLECT 02

What stood out to you from your meditation on Psalm 1? What

surprised you about the practice of meditation?

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 D AY 0 3

WEEK 03

Study

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind.
- Matthew 22:37

In the classic movie Dead Poets Society, a boarding-school student at an elite New England
prep school receives a beautiful desk organizer set for his birthday from his emotionally
distant parents. A friend asks why he looks so glum. The student frowns. “They gave me
the same thing as last year.” He stands and throws it off a bridge.

God never intended for love to act in ignorance or blind emotion. The prep-school student’s
parents likely loved their son with their hearts, but they didn’t love him enough with their
minds to remember that they’d bought him the same gift two years running. Love—for it to
be true love—always combines both the heart and the mind.

Studying Loved Ones

Young couples in love become students of each other’s personalities and preferences. Men
who have never before stepped into a flower shop or tried Korean food suddenly send
bouquets of specially selected blooms and arrange dates at Korean barbecue restaurants.

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Women study up on sports or woodworking to better understand their boyfriend’s hobby. New parents spend
hours studying every detail of their baby: counting toes and fingers, stroking hair, memorizing features.
Friends get out of their comfort zone to try their best friend’s new dance class. In pure affection we have no
trouble integrating our intellect, emotion, and will.

God says we should love Him like that. In both the Old and New Testaments, God reminds His people that
He is worthy of all of their love: heart, mind, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). He
doesn’t just want blind affection; He wants us to be students of His character and His words.

It’s easier said than done.

Broken Minds

One of the ways the world came apart when Adam and Eve sinned was in the fracturing of their humanity.
Before the fall, they were made in the image of God and were perfectly balanced in intellect, emotion, and
will. Afterward, the image-bearers were cracked mirrors and the curse prophesied their further fracturing
as creatures divided not only interpersonally (against each other) but intra-personally (within themselves)
(Genesis 3). The wounds we nurse as human beings are not just those inflicted by a cruel world and sinful
people; they are the very fissures inherent in our sinful nature, fault lines always ready to drive us further
and further out of balance with the people God created us to be in Him. In a very real sense, bringing our
hearts, minds, and souls together in worship of God makes us more and more the people we will be forever
in heaven.

Healing Our Minds

Today, worship the One who understand that we are dust, who knows that we are broken, but who comes to
us as the “sun of righteousness” with healing in its rays (Malachi 4:2). Jesus came to mend what was broken,
to heal the sick, and to raise the dead (Matthew 9:35, John 11:21–27). That includes healing our broken,
distracted minds and reversing our spiritual amnesia. He is able to give us the grace to discipline ourselves
to become students of His person and His Word, so we can love Him with all our hearts, souls, and yes, our
minds. Such full-orbed love brings with it memories of Eden, and it also gives a true foretaste of that day
when we will worship Christ with fullness of joy in perfect freedom. Oh, happy day!

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 REFLECT 03

Why do you think God has called us to love Him with our minds as
well as our hearts and souls?

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 D AY 0 4

WEEK 03

Study Pt. 2

Knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think

they know something do not yet know as they ought to
know. But whoever loves God is known by God.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1–3

In the sixteenth century, Spanish soldiers sweated and died in the jungles of Florida
looking for the proverbial “Fountain of Youth.” They likely thought that if they could crest
just one more hill, ford one more stream, or fend off one more enemy, that they would
locate the water and find life. Don’t we do the same? We may not traverse jungles, but we
do invest in shaky relationships, buy just one more facial cream, or order another twelve-
step program promising to help us lose weight and take control of our lives. We look to a
man or a mirror or a scale to find life, but whenever we look for life in these things we’re
sure to be disappointed. Life has only ever been found in one thing. Jesus said, “I am the
way, and the truth, and the life”, and it is as true today as it was when He first spoke it
(John 14:6).

The open secret of our souls is this: we long to know Christ and to be known perfectly in
return. We yearn to love and to be loved. We want life. We want freedom. We want joy. And
there is only One person who can give it to us.

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A One-Of-A-Kind Book

The purpose of each spiritual discipline is for us to know Christ better, and through that open-eyed relationship
to find abundant life and fullness of joy. The object of each spiritual discipline is the contemplation of God.
Studying God’s Word is never meant as an end in itself; it is never a mere intellectual exercise. It is intended
as a means to adore God more and more.

The Bible is different from all other books.

When famed professor and preacher Haddon Robinson considered doctoral programs in the 1960s, he
visited a well-known institution and told them he wanted to study preaching. The university didn’t have a
preaching department so they sent him to the classics department. In the old classics library covered with
cobwebs, a chain-smoking professor pointed to a dusty pulpit Bible laying on a table. “You know how that
book differs from Aristotle, Quintilian, and Plato?” the professor asked Robinson. “I’ll tell you: that book’s
alive. I don’t know anybody whose life was changed by studying those other books, but I do know some
people whose lives were changed by studying that book.” Robinson took that as a word of grace and went on
to teach thousands of students how to preach.11

The Living Word

The Bible is alive. The Spirit of God animates its pages and helps readers receive and apply its message. “For
the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Serious students of God’s Word have always found the Bible transformative. Fourteenth century English
mystic Julian of Norwich understood that study of God’s Word leads directly to adoration of God: “Truth
perceives God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes the third, and that is a holy,
wonderful delight in God, which is love.”12

Thousands of years ago, the author of Psalm 119 considered the study of God’s Word a natural catalyst for
loving God even more. “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws” the psalmist
writes in verse 7. “You are good, and what you do is good,” he continues. “Teach me your decrees” (v. 68).

Knowledge by itself is of some value, but it also holds the danger of puffing us up with pride. But knowledge
wrapped in adoration will build us up more and more into the image of Christ. Loving God will motivate us
to study His Word. In turn, studying God’s Word will transform us to love Him even more.

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Ask God to give you an appetite for His Word and a greater knowledge of your Creator. Pray that every
moment you spend in disciplined study of God and His Word will return a harvest of righteousness and
peace (Hebrews 12:11).

REFLECT 04

How has your love of God increased through study of His Word?

How can you study the Bible with a sense of adoration?

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 D AY 0 5

WEEK 03

Review & Apply

Imagine if we read God’s Word and meditated on it the way we watched Les Misérables
or listened to Vivaldi or smelled a bouquet of roses. What if God’s Word resonated in
our hearts and gripped us with a wild hope that kept us turning pages or mulling
phrases into the wee hours of the night—the way we’ve read love letters or memorized
compilations of encouraging notes from those we love when we most needed them?
Perhaps sometimes we do.

The good news is that love for God’s Word can be cultivated the same way any other sense
can be tuned. We do it through disciplined practice, through intentional time set aside for
meditation, and through a willing heart that believes God’s promises that His Word will
whet our hearts and will never return to Him void (Isaiah 55:1). Our experience of God’s
Word can grow richer and deeper.

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The longest chapter in the Bible is also one of its greatest love songs. Psalm 119 was originally written as
an acrostic to teach Hebrew children their alphabet. Each section starts with a different Hebrew letter. The
poem tells of the author’s love for God and His Word. For the author of Psalm 119, at least, study of God’s
Word resulted in greater adoration of God. The chapter has twenty-two sections—one for each Hebrew letter.
Choose one section to read today. Read it three or four times and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through
it. Then set aside fifteen minutes to clear your mind and mull over the text. What does this passage tell you
about God? What does it tell you about people? Ask the Lord to show you something from the passage that
you can put into practice today.

REFLECT 05

What have you learned this week about the disciplines of meditation
and study? What surprised you? What challenged you?

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Choosing
The Best

FA S T I N G &
S A B B AT H

week
 D AY 0 1

WEEK 04

Fasting

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding

you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had
known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 8:3

Everyone has times when they want to experience God more and depend on Him more
deeply— it just isn’t always easy to know how to make this desire a reality. This is the
reason spiritual disciplines have been part of rhythm of life for God’s people for centuries.
The discipline of fasting teaches us to be more dependent on God.

Dependence on God

We are all dependent on the Lord for life both physically and spiritually, and without
His gracious gift we have nothing. When we fast, this abstract reality is brought to our
attention in a way that our human minds can begin to better understand it.

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Jesus explains this theme further His explanation of fasting, which immediately follows the Lord’s Prayer in
Matthew 6—Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ request to teach them how to pray:

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting

may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your

head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16–18 esv).

Jesus taught His disciples that God is a good Father, that He can and should be depended upon for all our
needs. Jesus laid out clear guidelines for fasting. You are to fast privately before God as a declaration of
dependence on Him. Fasting helps the reality sink in, God will supply all your needs and that, at your core,
what you need most is God Himself.

When Jesus Fasted

It seems almost strange to think that Jesus Himself fasted. Who was more committed to God the Father than
Jesus, the Son? It seems that Jesus felt the need to be closer to the Father at certain times, such as before
He began His earthly ministry (Luke 4:1–13). He fasted for forty days and experienced extreme hunger and
temptation. He also experienced closeness to God and clarity in His mission. When we fast, we can know that
Jesus understands both our struggles and our victories.

Because the purpose of fasting is to draw our hearts closer to God and to help us understand our profound
need for Him, Jesus gave us some practical guidelines on what to do (and not to do) when we fast.

How to Approach Fasting

In Jesus’ day, many religious leaders made a big show out of fasting. The purpose of fasting for them wasn’t
to draw closer to God, but rather to have everyone look at them and notice how disciplined they were in their
fast. They did extra things to draw attention to themselves—like not grooming so they looked extra pitiful.
Jesus said that when people fast like that, the only reward they get is comments from onlookers.

So make your fast a private one before God. When you get up in the morning, do your normal routine:
shower, use lotion, put on makeup, dress normally. Jesus is trying to tell us there should be nothing about
your outward appearance that says to the world, “Look at me! I’m fasting!”

The goal of the fast is to draw closer to God and to better understand our deep need for Him.

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Lauren Winner, professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke, wrote about understanding the role of fasting
from her Jewish upbringing and integrating it into her life now as a Christian: “Like the liturgy the fast
accomplishes a repositioning. When I am satiated it is easy to feel independent. When I am hungry, it is
possible to remember where dependence lies.”13

As Lauren Winner explained by quoting her former Rabbi, “When you are fasting and you are hungry remind
yourself that you are really hungry for God.”14 God gave fasting to His people as a tangible way to help us
understand that our deepest need is for God—not for food or for the praise of others.

As we engage in fasting we should remind ourselves that we are not most hungry for food, the approval of
man, or any other thing. Fasting reminds us that we are actually hungry for connection with God.

REFLECT 01

What has been your experience with fasting? What intimidates you
about this practice?

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WEEK 04

Fasting Pt. 2

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we

drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these
things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well. 
- Matthew 6:31–33

Most of us don’t wonder where our next meal is coming from. In fact most Americans have
a refrigerator full of food at any given time. It is often hard to be mindful of the reality that
our full pantries are evidence that God provides for our physical needs.

Fasting to Recognize God’s Provision

Many children are taught to pray before meals to thank God for the food He has given them,
but in our day-to-day lives, because food is so abundant, we often forget to acknowledge
Him. And because most of us are working for a paycheck, it can be difficult to understand
in the way that a farmer might that we are dependent upon God for food. It seems as
though we are feeding ourselves, but in reality, all this provision is coming from His hand.

God gave us these disciplines as tools, and there are lots of ways to apply them. Some of
us are unable to fast from food due to a health condition; others of us have fought eating
disorders, and while the Lord has brought measures of freedom in the area of food, fasting

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from food would reintroduce an unhealthy relationship with food and possibly bring about a relapse. For
some of us, food is not our go-to or struggle, so fasting from food wouldn’t challenge us in a meaningful way.
But this doesn’t mean fasting isn’t for you. It just means that you can pray see what you need to fast from
in order to depend on the Lord in a deeper way. For example, you might fast from Netflix, social media,
shopping, or even exercising—whatever it is you depend on to sustain and motivate you when life gets tough.

First Steps to Fasting

For those of you who are new to fasting, step one is to establish what kind of a fast God is calling you to
do. Take some time to consider this question in prayer and with a close friend who is emotionally safe and
spiritually mature, and ask his or her advice on what you should be fasting from.

If you decide to do a food fast, make sure you prepare your body. Some people think if you are fasting you
should pig out the day before. This will actually make fasting more difficult. Instead eat sensibly the days
leading up to the fast, and drink lots of water. Try to limit your caffeine so you aren’t dealing with caffeine
deficiency on top of hunger pangs.

Choose a specific time to begin and end your fast. If you are new to fasting, consider a twenty-four–hour fast,
fasting from lunchtime to lunchtime.

It is also important to choose a more low-key day to fast. You will not have the same energy level you usually
do. As the day wears on, it will be harder and harder to stay committed to your fast. Keep a Bible verse or
quote where you can see it to remind you to continue and persevere. It also helps to write a prayer list so
you can keep your focus on those items as the hunger becomes more intense. Especially if you are not used
to it, fasting feels like a huge hurdle, so it can be helpful to write out yet another list of ways God has shown
His faithfulness in your life. You can also turn to others for help. Sometimes God asks you to fast alone in
complete secret, and other times He asks you to fast together with someone else who can encourage you.

It might help you to think through what you are going to say to people if they ask you if you want to go
to lunch or why you aren’t eating. Of course, if someone asks you to lunch, simply explaining that today
isn’t best for you should be sufficient; but other people may ask more pointedly. At this point it is ok to say
something like, “I’m not eating today for personal reasons.” Of course, people like your husband or your
doctor might need a more detailed answer to this question. Try to keep from drawing attention to yourself so
that you can delve deeper into your relationship with God. While fasting challenges us, it ultimately brings
us joy in reminding us that our good Father abundantly provides for all our needs.

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 REFLECT 02

How does fasting remind us of our dependence on God?

How do the lessons we learn from fasting spill into other areas of
life?

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WEEK 04

Sabbath

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall

labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to
the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you,
nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor
your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.  For in
six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and
all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore
the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
- Exodus 20:8–11

Have you ever heard someone say, “Don’t throw the baby out with
the bathwater”? Did you ever stop to wonder where this saying
comes from? Imagine if you were one of the American pioneer
settlers and everything was scarce—including water. Back then
families would bathe once a week, all using the same bathwater:
the father first, then the mother, then all the children until at
last the baby was washed in the family tub. Then it would be
the daughter or mother’s job to throw out the very dirty (at this
point) bath water that had served its purpose—and then some.
This saying reminds her to not forget the family’s precious, tiniest
member before taking care of that nasty chore.

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The Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders) had taken observing the Sabbath to a legalistic extreme, tying God’s
approval to the observance of this day in all its minute details. That is not what God intended the practice of
sabbath to be. Yet, in our culture, we often choose not to place any focus on the Sabbath day at all. We toss
out the baby along with the bathwater. There is clearly wisdom in taking this day of rest, which was modeled
for us not only by Old Testament saints but also by God Himself. After creating, He rested (Genesis 2:2).

The Purpose of Sabbath

When we intentionally set aside our to-do lists (especially when there are still some items noticeably
unfinished and demanding attention), when we decide to stop striving to meet that deadline at work, tackle
that mountain of laundry, finish a home-improvement project, or run kids from one activity to another for
just one day a week, we are acknowledging that we aren’t the creator and sustainer of our own lives.

In his book Every Good Endeavor, Timothy Keller writes on the issue of rest as a rhythm within Christian
work:

We are also to think of Sabbath as an act of trust. God appointed the Sabbath to remind us that he is
working and resting. To practice Sabbath is a disciplined and faithful way to remember that you are
not the one who keeps the world running, who provides for your family, not even the one who keeps
your work projects moving forward.15

By taking an intentional rest from our work we are making a declaration to our neighbors, extended family,
to our children and to our own anxious hearts: God is the one who sustains me. As Christians remembering
the sabbath, we remind ourselves that true productivity and true rest can only come from God. The sabbath
is also a reminder that the work of Christ on our behalf was perfect. He did what we could never do, living
a perfect life, giving Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and finally rising again defeating sin and
death. Without the work of the Son on our behalf we would be utterly lost, and no amount of work would be
sufficient to save our depraved souls.

The Wisdom of Sabbath

Many of us have been taught we don’t have to observe sabbath, or perhaps we haven’t had our attention
drawn to sabbath at all. But a sabbath could be the solution we are looking for. We are over-scheduled,
stressed out, and looking desperately for a space to experience peace. This is why God gave us the sabbath—
to remind us that yes, our work (both inside and outside of the home) is important, but it isn’t what sustains

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us. We are looking for not only a pause from work, stress, and performance, but also the reminder that
what we really need, we already have—God Himself, who created us, redeemed us, and is continually
sustaining us.

REFLECT 03

How does sabbath remind us that God sustains us?

What has been your experience with sabbath?

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 Sabbath
Part Two

day four of week four of

FA S T I N G & E N J OY I N G
S A B B AT H JESUS

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 Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for
man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord
even of the Sabbath.’
- Mark 2:27–28

Have you ever watched kids running and playing on the playground with their friends and thought, Wow!
I wish I had their energy! Or have you ever had to stay up late finishing a work project and totally dragged
through the next day, remembering your high school and college days when you hardly slept at all, taking
parties, classes, and other adventures all in your stride? As adults, our souls long for rest. No matter our age,
sabbath brings rest—and rest brings joy.  

As author Ruth Haley Barton put it, “Sabbath keeping helps us to live within our limits, because on the
Sabbath, in many different ways we allow ourselves to be the creature in the presence of our Creator. We
touch something more real in ourselves, and others than what any of us is able to produce. We touch our
very being in God.”16

The Joy of Rest

It seems counterintuitive, but when we rest, we learn. We learn about God and, surprisingly about ourselves—
about who we really are when we take time to stop and remind ourselves that we are the creature, God is the
Creator, and this is right. There, in the place of rest, we find deep, abiding joy because we stop striving and
begin to interact with God as He originally intended.

In Matthew 11, Jesus explained true rest to His disciples: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (vv. 28–30 nasb).

A Picture of Salvation

Sabbath in the Old Testament was a picture of what Jesus would eventually provide for us through His
life, atoning death, and resurrection, which paid for our sins and reconciled us to God. Without Christ’s

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willingness to suffer and pay for our sins, we would be lost in endless, joyless striving. His yoke is light
because He chose to pay the debt humanity owed but was entirely unable to pay. When we choose sabbath,
laying aside our work reminds us that we can also stop striving for salvation because Christ has done that
work on our behalf. This opens up the possibility for profound rest and great joy.

In his classic work The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine, A. W. Tozer explains what happens
in the lives of Christians when they take the yoke of Jesus upon themselves. “The rest He offers is the rest of
meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.”17
With this acceptance comes a flood of relief that raises up gratitude and joy in the heart of the believer.

Learning to keep the sabbath can be difficult at first because it is so counter to our culture’s idol of busyness.
We will spend our lives walking the line between feeling like we need to earn God’s love and wanting to
rest in the reality of His love. The practice of the sabbath urges us to pay attention and to not only stop for
physical rest, but to truly surrender our anxiety and desire to be creator and sustainer of our own lives.
Practicing the sabbath teaches us to rest securely in the joy God has for us.

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 REFLECT 04

How is sabbath a reminder that Christ has saved us?

What would it take to incorporate a regular sabbath in your life?

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WEEK 04

Review & Apply

This week we’ve looked at fasting and sabbath: two disciplines that are in conflict with the
constant need to “go” and the hunger for more that permeates our culture. What were your
preconceived thoughts about fasting and sabbath before the week began? How did those
views change as the week went on?

Reflecting on Fasting

It could be that the Lord is calling you to a traditional fast, abstaining from food for a
twenty-four–hour period, with some kind of regularity. Or, as you search your heart,
maybe you found that you are placing your hope in a midday latte to get you through the
toughest part of your day instead of God. If this is you, perhaps most obedient action you
could take would be to cut out your latte a few times a week to remind yourself of your
need for God. Or maybe, when you feel anxiety creeping into your heart, you depend on
the instant gratification of social media to give you a break instead of depending on God to
grant peace in the midst of a stressful time. If you are looking for the kind of fast the Lord

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would call you to, ask yourself this question: What am I depending on to make it through the day more than
or instead of God?

If you are in a season or in a culture of want, ask yourself this question: What am I placing my hope in?
Where do your thoughts go when you feel stress or tired? If your hope is in a coffee buzz or hangout night
with your girlfriends and you find yourself using that for motivation more than prayer and dependence on
God, it might be time to consider a non-food fast: abstaining from these activities until they are back in their
rightful place. If your hope is in having enough, then fasting from food or from some small luxury, or even
from collecting or buying things can remind you that when you feel that hunger, you “are actually hungry for
God.” The details of your fast are between you and God.

Reflecting on Sabbath

While we want to avoid the legalism of the Pharisees, there is wisdom in observing the sabbath. If a Christian
works seven days a week, she might not enjoy the same level of health. If a person works constantly and
doesn’t rest, she will run down her body and run up her level of anxiety. If you find yourself reaching a point
of burnout—getting short with those you love, feeling exhausted as soon as you wake up in the morning,
experiencing listlessness and purposelessness, and continually numbing by doing things like TV binges—
your soul is crying out for rest.

Sabbath is also important for the community of faith. Of course, you can practice the sabbath on your own,
but our joy increases when we rest together as God intended. Get together with your family or church small
group and plan a regular sabbath time. For some, once a week is too demanding. Try once a month or even
once a quarter. When observing a sabbath, the idea is not to create extra stress (though sometimes preparing
for a sabbath is demanding). It is meant to provide rest and joy to us—mind, body, and soul.

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 REFLECT 05

What surprised you this week in our study of fasting and sabbath?

How will you incorporate these disciplines into your life?

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WEEK 5 | SILENCE & SOLITUDE
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WEEK 05

Silence

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes

my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
- Psalm 62:1–2 ( esv )

When you were growing up did a parent or teacher ever say to you, “God gave you two ears
and one mouth so you should listen twice as much as you talk?” In most areas of life we
would agree with the wisdom in that statement. At work we listen to our bosses, mentors,
coworkers, and clients. In friendship we listen as our friends share about the important
things in their lives. In conflict we try to listen well to the other side of the argument in
order to bring restoration. We strive to listen actively to our children, spouses, family
members, or roommates as they share their days with us. Yet one relationship in which
we are often not taught how to listen is in our relationship with God. What does it mean
to listen to Him? For centuries the church knew the answer was waiting for God in silence
and solitude. This week we’ll look at two practices that are so connected, they’re often used
interchangeably.

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Our Need for Silence

Our world is saturated with sensory overload. Most Americans have at least two televisions per household.
We have near-constant access to computers or tablets, and we walk around with the Internet in our pockets
on our smartphones. Things like taking a walk or going for a drive used to be times to embrace silence and to
clear your mind. Now these moments are vulnerable to phone calls, texting, working remotely, and all kinds
of entertainment distractions.

Learning to embrace silence helps us get past all this and learn to listen to God.

Most of us haven’t grown up learning the practice of silence. There was a time when mainline churches
started the service with silence so the congregants could ready their hearts for worship. Now, in many
churches, we start conversations with friends in the lobby and enter a worship service with loud music
playing. With this heightened level of noise and stimulation, the concept of silence would seem out of place
in many of our churches today.

Listening to God

In the same way that human relationships require serious reflection and time without distraction, our
relationship with God requires a similar kind of maintenance. Scripture tells us to spend time in silence in
order to listen to God.

For God alone, O my Soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. (Psalm 62:5 esv)

When we follow the model the psalmist David provides and we wait in silence before the Lord, we will also
find hope. When we stop to listen to God, we understand His nearness. We are also made aware of the sin
that stands between us and we are able to confess sins and walk anew in a repaired relationship.

Practicing Silence

If silence is a new spiritual discipline for you, be aware that it will be uncomfortable. Our minds and bodies
are made for doing, so the flesh rails against the idea of being silent before God. The first time you try
being silent before the Lord, you shouldn’t do anything drastic like jump into a week-long silent retreat.
Give yourself small windows of silence, five minutes, then ten, then fifteen, and so on, until you are able to
spend more and more time in this quiet posture before the Lord. Eventually silence and listening to God will
become an important part of how you connect with Him.

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 REFLECT 01

What were your initial thoughts on silence as a discipline to

practice?

How do you feel when you sit silently before the Lord?

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 D AY 0 2

WEEK 05

Silence Pt. 2

There is a time  for everything, and a season for every

activity under the heavens: … a time to tear and a time to
mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7

We live in what is sometimes referred to as the “culture of now.” We are used to instant
gratification. If you want to know something, you can Google it, but you used to have to go
to the library and research for hours. If you are hungry you can get food immediately from
a fast food restaurant with a drive-through window without ever leaving your car. While
modern conveniences make life easier in many ways, they also make certain things harder.

Waiting in line at the grocery store is harder than it used to be. Traffic brings out such anger
in people that we now culturally refer to this phenomenon as “road rage.” It is considered
normal for adults to lack the impulse control to do things like wait in a line or sit in traffic
without having an angry melt-down that rivals anything a toddler could dish out.

Silence in the Spiritual Life

The “culture of now” has affected the church as well. In our spiritual lives, we’re often
unable to sit alone with a Bible and read for long stretches of time. Psychologists refer to
this ability as “impulse control.”

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If you want to know what it looks like to learn impulse control, volunteer to work in the toddler room at
church. If a child wants a toy another kid is playing with, she takes it. The child whose toy has been taken
may reflexively respond by hitting or biting. But this stage doesn’t last long. You will see much less of this
behavior in a preschool classroom and almost none among elementary-age kids. The reason is not that the
lack of impulse control automatically goes away—it must be addressed. Impulse control or self-control works
like building a muscle. The more you choose to engage higher levels of thinking and practice self-control, the
easier and more natural these choices will become.

Silence as Self-Control

Intentionally integrating silence into your spiritual life gives you regular opportunities to practice self-
control. Have you ever worked at something that began as a huge challenge, but one day you surprised
yourself by actually enjoying it? Maybe you started running because you knew running was good for you, but
you really hated it until one day you found yourself looking forward to your run and continuing past your
normal stop time.

Even though the exercise of silence can feel very uncomfortable at first, eventually it will become something
you look forward to. Engaging in the spiritual discipline of silence both gives a Christian space to listen to
God and a chance to practice skills of self-regulation with God.

Realigning Our Hearts

Silence is also an opportunity to realign your heart with God’s. Sometimes silence means just calmly
reflecting on His faithfulness before a busy day. But sometimes it is the place where a certain sin issue can
finally be addressed. For instance, have you ever struggled with the desire to gossip? You know it isn’t what
God wants, but the pull to be part of a group is strong. Sitting in silence before the Lord gives you the space
to be honest with Him about your true feelings and the desire to fit in. Practicing spiritual silence not only
helps us learn impulse control (being quiet when we’d rather talk), but it also fills us up so we don’t need to
do things like gossip to fit in—because in Christ we truly belong.

The self-acceptance the world talks about is powerful and important, but it falls short of the life-giving joy of
knowing that you are both entirely known and completely loved by the God who made and saved you. Silence
gives our noisy, crowded hearts the opportunity to turn the abstract truth of God’s love and our belonging
into a practical reality that is life changing.

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 REFLECT 02

How does the practice of silence teach us self-control?

How would incorporating a regular time of silence into your routine

affect your life?

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WEEK 05

Solitude

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

- Luke 5:16

What comes to your mind when you think of solitude? Dread? Maybe you think of a
prisoner in solitary confinement or an intense monk disconnected from reality. Or maybe
you think of the last time you were the only one home and you got to enjoy the quiet. Most
of us have extreme opinions of solitude: either it makes us uncomfortable and we never
engage in it or we have a tendency to become too isolated. Richard Foster said, “Loneliness
is inner emptiness. Solitude is inner fulfillment. Solitude is more a state of mind and heart
than it is a place.”18

The Balance of Solitude

In every generation, the church does well in some areas of focus, while other areas become
neglected. Many churches these days emphasize living together in community. This is
biblical and wonderful, but in the process of emphasizing the role of community many

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Christians have neglected the spiritual discipline of solitude. If individual Christians do not seek solitude in
their own spiritual lives, the entire community will be weaker for it.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer explained this well:

One who returns to the Christian family fellowship after the battle of the day [alone] brings with him the

blessing of his aloneness, but he himself receives anew the blessing of the fellowship. Blessed is he who

is alone in the strength of the fellowship and blessed is he who keeps the fellowship in the strength of

aloneness. But the strength of aloneness and the strength of the fellowship is solely the strength of the

Word of God, which is addressed to the individual in the fellowship.19

Basically, Bonhoeffer explains that a day spent in solitude is not only for the benefit of the individual, but it
is also vital to the entire community.

A Posture of the Heart

Solitude is more a state of mind and heart than an actual physical place. Think back to one of your most
hectic days. How did you get through it? Were you able to close your eyes for a moment, take a deep breath,
and connect with God? All of us, from the sought-after businesswoman to the busy teacher or stay-at-home
mom, have moments when we need to refocus and reconnect with our Father. The discipline of solitude
trains us to do that. Whether we are in a crowd or on a desert island, we can enjoy solitude. It is truly an inner
posture of the heart. As Christians, we are never truly alone because we always have access to communion
with God. A busy woman hounded and harried by the demands of life can inwardly withdraw to have her
needs met by God.

It sounds great to be able to have this kind of connection with God, but many of us aren’t sure how to get
it. The secret lies in our understanding of our identity in Christ. When we base our identity in who we are
in Christ, we know our personal value comes from who God says we are and Christ’s work on our behalf.
That relieves a lot of pressure. In the peace that comes from that assurance, we can relax and draw close to
Him. There, in our solitude, the Lord is able to refocus our hearts, bringing us the freedom and joy that the
abundant life in Jesus promises.

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 REFLECT 03

Do you tend to long for solitude or run from it?

How does solitude reconnect us to Jesus?

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 Solitude
Part Two

day four of week five of

SILENCE & E N J OY I N G
SOLITUDE JESUS

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 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts
in the Lord is kept safe.
- Proverbs 29:25

These days an entire industry has formed around helping people gain “followers.” Articles, books, and blog
posts give tips on how to increase your audience and manage your brand. While we may not run a business
that relies on those statistics, we can still fall into the trap of measuring our self-worth by what others think
of us. We worry about our number of followers on social media. We check to see how many people responded
to our cleverly worded posts and carefully edited photos. The spiritual discipline of solitude dethrones the
cultural idol of seeking a following. It brings freedom because we remember that our worthiness is in our
identity in Christ, not in other people.

The Need for Solitude

When you choose to spend time in solitude, without being accessible or available to others, you are left with
just yourself and God. Solitude provides an opportunity to assess where you’re finding your worth. If a few
moments of solitude leave you itching to check your phone or e-mail, you may need to ask the Lord to help
you determine if you’re truly finding your value in Him.

To others who want something from you, solitude might look and feel like you are not being productive.
You yourself might feel you are wasting valuable time doing something that feels outdated and could be
misunderstood by most people. If solitude feels like this to you, it will really seem strange to those around
you. But over time, as they see the freedom and peace that the practice of solitude brings to your life, they’ll
begin to understand it.

When we choose to spend time in solitude, we declare that our identity is found in Christ, not others. It
brings freedom from being overly concerned with what other people think of us. Solitude allows us to retune
ourselves, reminding our hearts that we belong to God and He loves us more than we can imagine. It is
acknowledging that while the world’s first priority is popularity, accomplishments, or visible productivity,
God has called us to better and deeper things. He has called us to Himself.

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Jesus’ Practice of Solitude

Since solitude is not a practice most of us are familiar with, it can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, Jesus
Himself modeled solitude for us during His earthly ministry. Jesus had three years to lay the foundation for
the church. With that responsibility on His shoulders, Jesus often prioritized solitude.

Mark paints the picture of Jesus’ solitude for us very vividly: “Rising very early in the morning, while it was
still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed,” (Mark 1:35 esv). Why would
Jesus, who is fully God, practice solitude? He did it for the same reason we should do it—for connection with
the Father.

Have you ever seen someone every day and still felt frustratingly disconnected from them, but then you
get to grab coffee with them and suddenly your connection is better than ever? Jesus showed us that our
relationship with God works this way too. We need time alone with God where it is quiet and we can focus
on our relationship with Him.

In the still and quiet place there is freedom, because God will meet us there. For many of us, the idea of
finding regular times of solitude seems impossible. Take heart. God will provide a way. Solitude doesn’t have
to be an everyday occurrence. Maybe once a week during the kids’ naptime you can find solitude, or maybe
you can ignore your phone one day a week during your commute home. For many of us, any time of solitude
will require planning and help from others. Put this event in your calendar. Hire a sitter. Turn down other
opportunities. Do what it takes to invest in solitude.

The Reward of Solitude

Solitude can honestly seem like a lot of trouble. It can be awkward at first. So why do it? The reward of
solitude is worth any frustration or awkwardness.

That reward is that you learn to walk in the freedom Christ has provided for you.

When you spend time in solitude, your close connection with God is rekindled and you are able to see
yourself the way He sees you. You can address sin and enjoy a greater sense of freedom. Solitude allows you
to reconnect with Christ and remember who you are in Him.

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 REFLECT 04

Why is solitude such a challenging practice in our culture?

What benefits would a regular practice of solitude bring to your

life?

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WEEK 05

Review & Apply

This week we looked at two radically countercultural practices: silence and solitude. We
are the most connected and overstimulated generation in history. We are always looking
for the new idea in business or parenting, the new skin treatment, the new workout
routine. Silence and solitude confront our culture’s demands.

Silence and Solitude Together

These two spiritual disciplines are so closely related that they are often discussed together
and sometimes, interchangeably. These two disciplines not only make the most sense
when they are studied together, but they should also be engaged in together.

We learned this week that silence allows us to hear from the Lord and grow in self-control.
Solitude is an attitude of the heart more than an actual place and can be entered into
anywhere. Even in someplace crowded with people, if her heart is ready, a believer can
meet “alone” with God.

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Practicing Silence and Solitude

When you add a new discipline to your spiritual life, it is best to start slow. Look for pockets of solitude
already built into your day: your morning coffee before anyone else is awake, your shower, your daily run,
and the like. During these times turn off your phone, unplug from other distractions, and be alone in silence
and mindfully connect with God.

To grow in a particular discipline, you must engage it with intentionality. Trying silence and solitude may be
awkward for you at first, but soon you will find yourself craving this time, and you will be able to set aside
longer periods of time to devote to it. Some people can reserve places in their homes to use as a retreat from
the world, where they can enter into solitude. But privacy at home is often a hard thing to come by, so it’s
important to find some backup places like a secluded park bench, the parking lot of your favorite coffee
shop, or maybe even borrowing a friend’s apartment while she is away on a monthly work trip. For some
of us, leaving home for solitude is not an option. In this case, talk to those you share your home with about
your need for time alone and let them help you. Make arrangements for your husband to take the kids for
an hour, or work out a signal so family members or housemates can know and respect when you are having
alone time.

We know that freedom is one of the outcomes of silence and solitude, so freedom should also be kept in mind
when we plan to engage it. You may know someone or have a mentor who is able to engage in solitude on
a daily basis because she has been practicing it for years and has built up her appetite for time alone. But
everyone’s situation is different. Pace yourself. Even though it is helpful to have wiser person with experience
to show you the way, don’t expect yourself to instantly reach the place it has taken them years to get to.

If you are the kind of person who gravitates toward solitude, it will be important for you (and the rest of us)
to remember that solitude and silence were not given solely for individual benefit but also for the body of
Christ. After your time alone, remember to share with your community the things the Lord has given you, so
they can share in your freedom and joy.

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 REFLECT 05

What surprised you this week in our study of silence and solitude?

What will be most challenging about practicing these disciplines?

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 but Jesus often

withdrew to lonely

places & prayed

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Pouring
Out
week 06
 D AY 0 1

WEEK 06

Simplicity

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls

with toil and chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 4:6

What do you think is the most common response to the question, “How have you been?”
If you guessed, “Busy,” you’re right. We fill our lives with meetings, objects, deadlines,
people, and plans. We seek money, status, and recognition. It leaves us exhausted—so
exhausted that when people ask us how we are, we mutter the tried-but-true response,
“Busy,” or the more evasive, “Fine.” In the last few years, people have begun to fight this
trend, ushering in new ways to simplify life: tiny houses, capsule wardrobes, minimalist
design, thirty-hour workweeks. We are longing for simpler lives.

Our Call to Simplicity

As Christ-followers, though, we have a much more ancient and rooted calling to simplicity.
It’s a Christian calling to find one’s identity in God, not things, and to be satisfied in Him
alone. Simplicity as a spiritual discipline is a choice to live in the life-affirming freedom
brought by the Holy Spirit.

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Freedom? Yes, indeed. If you look in a thesaurus, the antonyms of the word simplicity include complexity,
complication, and difficulty. But the life of following Christ is a calling to be free—free from sin, from
entanglement in worldly things, from difficulty brought on by busyness and materialism. It’s a calling to be
free to enjoy Jesus in all His goodness. Early in Paul’s ministry, he eagerly reminded the Galatian believers
that “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). He followed his encouragement with an
exhortation: “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (v. 1). The
choice to return to slavery is within the power of each believer. Yet the Holy Spirit’s desire for each of us is
that we live free, resisting slavery to the things from which we have already been rescued.

The Choice of Freedom

The discipline of simplicity is a choice to live in freedom, unhindered by worldly distractions and possessions.
It’s like coming upon an enticing banner ad online and joyfully choosing not to spend your money on another
thing. Simplicity is not a call to reject the physical world outright but to see it for what it is. In his book
Freedom of Simplicity, Richard Foster explains this tension well: “simplicity . . . [affirms] both the goodness
and the limitation of material things. The material world is good, but it is a limited good—limited in the sense
that we cannot make a life out of it.”20

Later on in his ministry, the apostle Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take

nothing out of it . . . Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and

harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds

of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many

griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance

and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:6–11).

If you are longing for a simpler life, one that is not full of material things and busy schedules, Paul’s advice
to Timothy should bring great comfort. Yes, some have “wandered from the faith” to pursue a life full of
possessions. Yet those who are indwelled by the Spirit have the choice to “flee” from these things, instead
pursuing a life of “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.” Do you want to enjoy
Jesus even more? Step into the grace of simplicity. Declutter your life, both physically and spiritually. Ask
God to give your heart the desire, above all else, for godliness with contentment.

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 REFLECT 01

How does simplicity bring freedom to our lives?

Why is it hard to practice simplicity?

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Simplicity Pt. 2

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat
or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air;
they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can
any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
- Matthew 6:25–27

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If you have ever watched a show set in 1950s America, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the simplicity of their
lifestyles—only one family car; a modest, ranch style home; a small black-and-white TV; single and double
beds. You may be tempted to think the discipline of simplicity means living the lifestyle of June Cleaver. The
question is: what does simplicity look like in modern, twenty-first century life?

Jesus’ Call to a Simple Life

A simple life is modeled on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.” The phrase “All these things” refers to the many legitimate
needs of humans—food, clothing, and basic material goods. Jesus’ disciples are not to worry about their basic
human needs but to focus their primary attention on “his kingdom and his righteousness.” This describes a
life of inner trust and peace, not one of anxiety.

Does your heart feel at peace? If you know that God owns all things, will supply all things, and is control of all
things, you won’t try to find fulfillment in buying the newest iPhone or upgrading your car. You will be free
to seek God’s kingdom first. Do you struggle with anxiety and fear over your security? It’s okay if you do. In
fact, Jesus is sympathetic to our weaknesses and our proclivities toward fear (Hebrews 4:14–16). Ask God to

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show you where you’re struggling with fear and to begin filling you with trust that He is in control and that
your security lies in Him.

Practicing Simplicity

A simple life begins with a heart that fully trusts God’s provision. But it also has external implications. Some
common areas trip us up as women. Let’s look first at clothing and fashion. It’s so easy in this digital age to
become overly concerned with approval, leading us to spend more money and more time than we have to
wear brand-name, up-to-the-minute fashions. Or, think about your status as an employee, entrepreneur,
woman, friend, wife, or mother. Isn’t there is a constant push toward competition, pitting woman against
woman? It leads us to spend too much money on Christmas, plan extravagant weddings, lose sleep producing
the best teacher-appreciation gifts, and try to out-Pinterest even the best pinners we know. And then there’s
social media. We fill our limited spare time with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, sometimes to
the detriment of our own emotional and mental well-being.

Here are some suggestions. Maybe simplicity for you means cancelling your subscription to Vogue and
taking a six-month hiatus from buying clothes. Maybe it means purging your house of excess things and
vowing to buy less. Maybe it’s a social media fast or disciplining yourself to stay within a set amount of time
online per week. Maybe it’s actively encouraging other women in ministry instead of spending your time
competing with them at work or at home.

The Gift of Simplicity

Simplicity looks different for every person. It’s also a discipline to grow in, and it may be challenging at first.
When you face real-life decisions, have a verse ready to remind yourself that God loves you and has given
you all you need. And be encouraged: “Simplicity is a grace because it is given to us by God. There is no way
that we can build up our willpower, put ourselves into this contortion or that, and attain it. It is a gift to be
graciously received.”21

A simple life is not only recognizable to the outside world; it is shocking. A woman who lives a life of simplicity
will not only be following Jesus every day but enjoying Jesus every day. May we have the courage to trust the
Lord, finding our full satisfaction not in material things or a busy life, but in God (Psalm 63:2–5). Go forth
and simplify!

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 REFLECT 02

Where do you long for simplicity in your life?

What are some ways you can start practicing this discipline?

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WEEK 06

Giving

One gives  freely, yet grows all the richer; another

withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who
waters will himself be watered.
- Proverbs 11:24–25 ( esv )

In 2012, Giving Tuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving) was created to balance
generosity with the consumerism exhibited on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and
Cyber Monday. But generosity is far from a new concept. In fact, it is something the people
of God have always exhibited. Giving is very near to the heart of God, as it is a sign of our
faith in Him.

Israel’s Call to Generosity

We see this call to giving early on in the story of Israel. In Deuteronomy 26:1–11, we
read how the people of Israel entered the land of Canaan, a land “flowing with milk and
honey,” a land of great bounty and peace. The land had been given to them as a gift, “an
inheritance” from the Lord that was promised all the way back in Genesis when God told
Abraham He would make him into a great nation with a special land (Genesis 15:18). The
Lord told His people how they were to honor Him in this new land. They were to gather the
first crops of each season, bring them to the priest, and have them presented on the altar

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of the Lord. Yet most striking in this passage is not what the Israelites were to do but how they were to do
it. When they made this presentation to the Lord, they were to recite the story of God’s faithfulness to Israel
—how He heard their cries, saw their oppression in Israel, delivered them miraculously, and granted them a
fruitful land. And then they were to rejoice “in all the good things the Lord [their] God [had] given to [them].”

Rejoicing in God’s Faithfulness

Reciting and rejoicing. That’s the way that the Lord taught His people to give. In the same way, we are to
give out of a heart that is eager to recite His faithfulness and eager to rejoice in His provision. Reflect on your
own history of giving. Do you have a heart eager to recite your testimony of God’s work in your life? Are you
overflowing with gratitude for the abundance He has provided? If not, be honest with God about it. Spend
time in prayer asking Him to reveal reasons you may not feel grateful. Examine your heart, confess your sins,
and draw near to God (James 4:8). As we grow in gratitude, we come to see how much we have to be grateful
for. It’s a process that takes time, but it is well worth it.

When we talk about the discipline of giving, we talk most often about money. But giving goes way beyond
our money; it includes our talents, our time, and our resources. Christ-followers are called to give not only
of their monetary possessions but of their very selves. The apostle Paul urged his listeners “to offer [their]
bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). We give not just of our bank accounts,
but of our very lives.

When we give, incredible things take place. We find our needs fulfilled, our appetites sated. We find that God
Himself is enough. We find that a life of generosity is a life of deep joy. Think of the woman who poured out
her alabaster jar of perfume upon Jesus’ feet (Matthew 26:6–13). The disciples were worried about her use of
such an expensive item: “Why this waste? This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money
given to the poor.” And, yet, Jesus saw the gift as “beautiful,” given out of a heart of generosity toward God.

When we give generously, God counts it as beautiful.

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 REFLECT 03

Why does God call us to give?

How have you seen generosity change someone’s heart?

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 D AY 0 4

WEEK 06

Giving Pt. 2

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth

and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Matthew 6:19–21 ( esv )

The wonder of the spiritual disciplines is that their influence goes far beyond the life of one
individual who practices them. They transform a community. For instance, the praying
person brings blessing to those he knows. The meditating believer gives grace to all she
encounters. The person of solitude adds needed wisdom to conversations. So too the
generous person provides and transforms the lives of those around her.

The Generous Macedonians

One group of people who understood this principle was the church in ancient Macedonia.
They heard about the needs of other believers and gave “as much as they were able, and
even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:3). That alone is enough to commend them.
But Paul paints an even clearer—and more convicting—picture. When the Macedonians
heard of his financial need, they were “in the midst of a very severe trial” and living in
“extreme poverty” (v. 2). One would expect, given their poverty, that the Macedonians

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would have determined to pray for someone else to provide for Paul’s needs, believing it to be outside of their
power to help. And yet, filled with “overflowing joy,” they practiced “rich generosity” (v. 2). The believers in
Macedonia were completely unhindered by their own lack of means. All they knew was that they wanted to
give. And God worked a miracle: He produced generosity out of poverty.

Oh, to live a life like the Macedonians! How much we need to learn from their example as we navigate a world
that is obsessed with self-preservation, the amassing of wealth, and the pursuit of the American dream. We
would do well to read this story often, asking ourselves if we have hearts of self-preservation or hearts of
generosity. Our level of personal wealth doesn’t matter. This is a matter entirely of the heart.

Loving Others

Jesus simplified the Law of Moses into two, all-encompassing commands: love God and love others (Mark
12:30–31). Biblical love is a giving up of oneself, a laying down of one’s life. The apostle John makes it
extremely clear: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay
down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). When we give—either of money, of possessions, of
time, of talents, of energy—we love others well.

Giving is not a loss of hard-earned money or of desperately needed time. It’s an opportunity to show Jesus’
love and generosity. A Christian’s call to give is a call to imitate Jesus. When we live generous lives, we
experience the freedom and joy that He experienced! And that joy becomes addicting. Pretty soon, we find
ourselves just like the Macedonians who gave and gave and gave, all with hearts of “overflowing joy” (1
Corinthians 8:2).

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 REFLECT 04

How has God been generous toward you?

He has blessed me with opportunities to learn from others how to give and bless others with
the gifts He has blessed me with.

He has watched over me before I gave my life to Him, before I knew who He was and how
much He loves me, before I knew He has plans for my life, before I knew he wanted to have
a close, intimate relationship with me.

He has provided ways of escape out of temptaion, some I took and others I didn't.
He has never left me nor forsaken me.

In what area of life do you feel you could grow in generosity?

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WEEK 06

Review & Apply

This week we’ve delved into the spiritual disciplines of simplicity and giving. Like many of
the paired practices in this study, these disciplines are so interconnected that you cannot
ignore one without ignoring the other, or practice one without practicing the other. When
we give, we practice simplicity by saying no to ourselves. When we choose a simple life, we
have more to give others.

Reflecting on Simplicity and Giving

As you reflect on your own life right now, where do you feel Jesus calling you to grow? If
it’s in the discipline of simplicity, identify an aspect of your life that is complicated and
difficult. Is it your schedule, your pursuit of money, your shopping addiction, your use of
technology? Imagine for a moment what simplicity would look and feel like. When you
think of letting go of control in that area, what comes to mind? Fear? Confusion? Ask the
Lord to reveal underlying emotions or any wrong beliefs that could be holding you back
from the freedom He has for you in these areas. Once you’ve identified the underlying

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reasons you’re holding back, bring them to the Lord to ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to help you see the
joy He has in store for in the practice of simplicity. And then identify one way you can simplify your life today.

If God is calling you to grow in the discipline of giving, identify what He’s specifically calling you to do. Is He
asking you to begin giving or increase your giving to your local church? Is He calling you to sacrifice more
in order to provide for the needs of a family member, friend, or missionary? Is He asking you to give more
of your time and talents to a local ministry? Imagine for a moment how it would feel to become a generous
giver. If there’s any fear holding you back, ask God to reveal that and help you to trust Him as you give. He
will delight in answering your prayer!

The Freedom of Simplicity and Giving

We serve a God of a million second chances. Come to Him with your confessions, earnestly praying for His
Spirit to work in you to produce a disciplined life of generosity and simplicity. By obeying what the Spirit
prompts us to do in these areas, we demonstrate our trust that He has something good in store for us. We
also experience life-giving freedom.

The disciplines of giving and simplicity point out the truth that our deepest enjoyment in life comes not
from material things but from the presence of the Lord. So, as you look for ways to employ these disciplines,
be encouraged by this passage from the book of Hebrews: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and
be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So
we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”
(Hebrews 13:5–6).

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 REFLECT 05

How have you been challenged this week by our study of simplicity
and giving?

How do these disciplines bring freedom and joy?

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LIVING
GRATEFUL
week 07 • service & worship
 D AY 0 1

WEEK 07

Service

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the
love you have shown him as you have helped his people
and continue to help them.
Hebrews 6:10

In the popular BBC Masterpiece Classic Downton Abbey, a great gulf stands between the
members of the upper class Crawley family and their lower-class servants. The family
members live life freely and fully, pursuing the activities and employment they desire.
The household servants, however, have only relative freedom, spending most of their time
attending to the needs of the family. When viewers like us watch this popular show, it is
fair to say that we imagine ourselves living the life of the aristocracy, not the servant class.
If given a choice, we’d rather be a member of a great family than a lowly servant. We’d
rather be served than serve others.

Christ’s Example

Jesus’ disciples were also concerned about this. They argued over which disciple was the
greatest and which was the least (Mark 9:34; Luke 9:46, 22:24). On several occasions,

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Jesus rebuked their human way of thinking, teaching them that “anyone who wants to be first must be the
very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35). But they just weren’t getting it.

On the last day of Jesus’ life, He acted out this message. His dinner with the disciples had just come to an
end and Jesus was soberly thinking about His impending death. “He got up from the meal, took off his outer
clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash
his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:4–5).

This was shocking behavior. Of all people at the dinner table that night, Jesus was the last person expected
to serve, especially in such a menial way. The disciples were perplexed and probably embarrassed. After
completing His service, Jesus gave a powerful concluding lesson: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than
the one who sent him” (John 13:14–17).

What a subversive message! Jesus, the greatest person to ever live, equated His greatness with a call to
service. Though He could have demanded service from anyone, he chose to serve others. Jesus knew that
service frees us from the need to prove our greatness. Serving others reminds us that our value lies not in our
human status but in our relationship to God. We are His, and serving teaches us that that is enough.

Service and the Heart

Serving can take so many forms, but it always begins in the heart. Service that is half-hearted, self-righteous,
or proud is not beneficial to anyone and certainly does not direct glory to God. Service in the name of Jesus
is compassionate, kind, vulnerable, and submissive. And it brings incredible joy to the person who serves.

When we follow Jesus, we become servants. The question is no longer, “Will we serve?” but “How will we
serve?” Ask God to give you the boldness and wisdom to utter this prayer: “Lord Jesus, as it would please
You, bring me someone today whom I can serve.”

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 REFLECT 01

How have you felt yourself resist serving others?

Why does service bring us freedom and joy?

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 D AY 0 2

WEEK 07

Service Pt. 2

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But

do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve
one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in
keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.
- Galatians 5:13–14

Mother Teresa stands as one of the best examples of a Christian servant in the twentieth
century. Drawn to missions early in life, she dedicated decades to living among and serving
the impoverished people of Calcutta, India. She once said that her call to minister was
not derived from pity; rather, it was a clear call from God: “I was sure it was God’s voice.
I was certain He was calling me. The message was clear: I must leave the convent to help
the poor by living among them. This was a command, something to be done something
definite. I knew where I had to be.”22 She served humbly, not to earn favor with God, but to
obey Him. And her story shows how integrally service and humility are connected. As we
serve, we give up our agendas, our energy, our desires, and even our flesh. This humbling
process, though painful, brings great joy. In fact, Teresa’s ministry was known for creating
“an atmosphere of joy” wherever they went.

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The Greatness of Humility

In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster expertly weaves a connection between service and
humility: “Of all the classical Spiritual Disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility.
When we set out on a consciously chosen course of action that accents the good of others and is, for the most
part, a hidden work, a deep change occurs in our spirits.”23 The change is this: we start to look more and
more like Jesus.

The incarnation—Jesus putting on human flesh and coming to earth as a man—is not only a cornerstone
of Christian theology. It is an overturning of the worldly belief that humility and greatness are mutually
exclusive. Jesus’ greatness was exemplified in His humble service. After coming to earth as a man and dying
on the cross, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).

Jesus’ crucifixion on a Roman cross was an act of ultimate humility. But it was far from His only act of
humility. In fact, He lived his life in humble service to the Father. We see this in His interruptibility (Matthew
9:18–26), His compassion (Luke 7:13; Matthew 23:37), His acts of healing (Matthew 8:16), His devotion to
prayer (Luke 6:12), His love for children (Matthew 19:14), and His concern for the oppressed and forsaken
(Luke 4:18–19).

Following Christ in Service

In everyday life, we can be humble servants by emulating Jesus. When someone interrupts us during a hectic
day at work, we can show patience. When a friend calls after a hard day, we can set aside the to-do list and
listen. When we hear of a church member who is in the hospital, we can visit her. When a natural disaster
takes place in our community, we can serve on the rebuilding team or provide supplies.

Today, you only need to take one step forward. One small step of service. And, as others see your good works,
they will “glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)!

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 REFLECT 02

How did Jesus show us that serving others with humility is greater
than being served?

What are some ways you can serve others in your life?

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rather, serve
one another
humbly in love

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 D AY 0 3

WEEK 07

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day

after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous
deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most
worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the
gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in
his dwelling place.
- 1 Chronicles 16:23–27

Most of us have heard and sung Matt Redman’s song “The Heart
of Worship.” It’s a song that beckons believers to true worship—
worship from the heart. What is not well-known, however, is
the story behind the song. At the time of its composition, Matt’s
home church, Soul Survivor, was “struggling to find meaning in
its musical outpouring.” His pastor decided to remove the band
and sound system, desiring the church to rediscover worship.
After some weeks of awkwardness, the congregation began
singing a cappella and erupting in genuine prayer. As Matt
describes, “[We] gained a new perspective that worship is all
about Jesus, and he commands a response in the depths of our
souls no matter what the circumstance and setting. ‘The Heart
of Worship’ simply describes what occurred.”24

Responding to God

So what is worship? It is our human response to “the

Father who is the originating Lover, the Son who is the full

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self-expression of that Love, and the Spirit who is the original and inexhaustible activity of that Love.”25 It is
a posture of praise toward God for all He is and all He has done. We worship Him when we strive to love Him
with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).

Worship is the foundation of the relationship between God and His people. After leading Israel to the
promised land, God gave them ten commandments upon which to ground their lives. They were to worship
Him alone, recognizing “no gods before me” and refusing to “make . . . an image in the form of anything”
(Exodus 20:3–4). This is a call to exclusivity. God’s people are to worship Him only, to devote themselves to
Him alone, to worship Him with all they have. He is to exclusively be their God and receive their worship.

Designed to Worship

We have been designed to worship. The universe has been designed to worship. In fact, if and when humans
do not worship and praise God, the creation will “cry out” on our behalf (Luke 19:37–40)! When we worship,
we experience God Himself. One astonishing passage describing the glory of worship is Isaiah’s experience
in the throne room of God. He describes the scene like this:

I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged

creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two

their feet, and with two they flew about. They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord

of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” The doorframe shook at the sound of their

shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean

lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!” Then

one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with

tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your

sin is removed.” (Isaiah 6:1–7)

Isaiah experienced God in all His majesty and holiness and forgiveness and grace. He entered the place all
believers will enter one day—a place where constant praise is given to our righteous King!

Ways to Worship

Struggling to worship? Open up the Bible and remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to His people. Get a copy
of the classic A. W. Tozer book The Attributes of God and read through a chapter or two on the magnificence
of our God. Write a list of how you’ve seen Him work in your life. Go out and look at nature and worship
Him for His creation. Enter His presence through prayer and song. Remember that you’ve been designed for
this—designed to worship!

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 REFLECT 03

How have you thought of worship in the past?

Why do you think worship is considered a spiritual discipline?

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WEEK 07

Worship Pt. 2

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he
who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks
to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures
forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
- Psalm 100

A lovely and poignant hymn, “For the Beauty of the Earth,” was created out of writer
Folliott Pierpoint’s deep sense of awe at God’s creation. Have you ever been in a similar
situation, out in nature and in amazement at the beauty of God’s creation? Or maybe
you’ve experienced the love of a friend or family member and felt a brief reminder of
God’s goodness. Or perhaps you’ve eaten a delicious meal and exclaimed in praise. What
a joy it is to know that we can express our worship to God so freely! Did you know that
worship is both an internal response and an outward, physical action? Some of the biblical
words used for acts of worship mean “to prostrate,” “to kneel,” and to “extend the hand”
(Psalm 99:5, Daniel 6:10, Ezra 9:5). Throughout Scripture, especially the Psalms, we see
worshippers bowing down, playing loud instruments, dancing, clapping, and even leaping
before the Lord in worship.

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Worship as a Way of Life

In our individual lives, we worship Him in the way we think, the words we speak, and the actions we take.
We worship God in our thought lives by focusing on truths about His character, maybe taken from books
we have read or favorite passages of Scripture. When we drive to work and turn off the radio to thank God
for all He has done for us—that is worship. When we interact with others and point them to Jesus—that is
an act of worship. When we’ve just closed our eyes to go to sleep and whisper a prayer telling God we love
Him—that is worship.

Worshiping Together

Worship is often expressed individually. But it’s also something experienced in community. One of the most
sacred expressions of worship is when we gather together as the body of Christ. In that time and place, we
enter God’s presence together. We lift our voices in unison. We hear God’s voice as He speaks to us through
His people and His Word. We experience “deep inward fellowship in the power of the Spirit.”26

And it is here, in corporate worship, that we gain a glimpse of what is taking place in heaven right now. In
John’s revelation of the throne room of God, he describes the scene like this:

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives

for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him

who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and

God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created

and have their being.” (Revelation 4:9–11)

What a powerful reminder this is that worship is an eternal spiritual discipline! When we live in the way
God designed us to live, we find freedom and joy. That is the way we enjoy Jesus—both now and eternally.

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 REFLECT 04

Remember a time when you experienced freedom and joy through

worship. What was that experience like? What prompted it?

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WEEK 07

Review & Apply

Thank you for joining us on this exploration of the spiritual disciplines. As you employ
these disciplines in your life, you will see how life giving they truly are! That’s not because
these disciplines carry power themselves; it’s because each of the disciplines points us
to Jesus. These are the tried and true ways to enjoy Christ. When we meditate and study
Scripture, we see God’s sovereignty and faithfulness. When we live a simple life, we free
ourselves to focus on the Lord. When we fast and observe the sabbath, we remind ourselves
that our satisfaction is in Him. When we give and serve, we become more like Jesus.

A Deeper Worship

All the spiritual disciplines we’ve talked about drive us to a deeper worship of God.
In the truest sense, they are the tools we use to put into practice the New Testament’s
exhortations to “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand
of God . . . [and] set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1–2).

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Adding spiritual disciplines to our lives helps us to focus on Jesus and, in turn, start enjoying Him more
and more. We choose to make God the object of all of our attention and affection, and we begin to walk in
freedom and joy.

As you have journeyed with us, undoubtedly you have heard the Spirit’s voice. What is it that He has told
you? As you’ve tried some of the disciplines, what have you learned? What was challenging? What surprised
you? What drew you closer to the Lord? Write these thoughts down and spend some time in reflection and
praise. Share them with a friend or spouse.

Continue to Grow

As you continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus, adding spiritual disciplines to your life will be faith
enriching and life giving. And this opportunity will always be before you. Until you see Jesus face-to-face,
there will still be room to grow and to learn and to enjoy Him more. The apostle Paul described the ongoing
growth of faith like this:

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my

Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found

in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in

Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know

the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so,

somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have

already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting

what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which

God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8-15, emphasis added).

Sisters, may we forget what is behind and press on toward Jesus. As we press into Him, we will find our
perspectives on life transformed. We will begin to see that knowing, experiencing, and enjoying Christ is the
only goal worth seeking.

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 REFLECT 05

How has this study encouraged and challenged you?

How have the spiritual disciplines helped you enjoy and worship
Jesus in a new way?

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150
End Notes

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152
1
Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco,
1988), 5.

2
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God and The Spiritual Maxims
(1895; repr. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2006), 26. See also Christian History, “Brother
Lawrence: Practitioner of God’s Presence,” Christianity Today, accessed December
29, 2016, http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/innertravelers/brother-
lawrence.html.

3
David McCasland, Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God (Grand Rapids: Discovery
House, 1993), 85.

4
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest Uhrichsville (Ohio: Barbour, 1992), 59.

5
Jacqui Goddard, “Buried for 27 days: Haiti earthquake survivor’s amazing
story,” Telegraph, March 28, 2010, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/
centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7530686/Buried-for-27-days-Haiti-earthquake-
survivors-amazing-story.html.

6
Ibid.

7
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, trans. Henry Chadwick (Oxford: Oxford World’s
Classics, 2008), 3.

8
Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson,
2004), 45.

9
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco,
1998), 17.

10
John Wesley, Journal of John Wesley, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, accessed
December 29, 2016, https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.vi.ii.xvi.html.

11
Steve Smith, “Truth Poured Through Personality,” DTS Magazine, Spring 2017, 22–25.

12
Julian of Norwich, in Frederick S. Roden, ed. Love’s Trinity: A Companion to Julian of
Norwich—Long Text with Commentary (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2009), 161.

153
13
Lauren F. Winner, Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline
(Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2007), 91.

14
Ibid., 91.

15
Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor (New York: Penguin, 2012), 245.

16
Ruth Haley Barton, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual
Transformation (Downers Grove: IVP, 2006), 138.

17
A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine (Camp Hill, PA:
Wing Spread Publishers, 2006), 108.

18
Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 96.

19
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1959), 89.

20
Richard Foster, Freedom of Simplicity (New York: HarperOne, 2005), 11.

21
Ibid., 7.

22
Mother Teresa, quoted in Anne Seba, Mother Teresa: Beyond the Image (New York:
Image 1998), 46.

23
Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 130.

24
David Schrader, “Song Story: Matt Redman’s ‘The Heart of Worship,’” Crosswalk,
March 25, 2004, http://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/song-story-matt-
redmans-the-heart-of-worship-1253122.html.

25
Brennan Manning, “The Furious Longing of God” (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook,
2009), 38.

26
Foster, The Celebration of Discipline, 164.

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