Why do spiritual disciplines matter?
Why should Christians intentionally engage in spiritual habits like prayer, Bible reading, worship, fasting and silence and solitude?
After all, aren’t we saved by grace – not by works?
The short answer is: yes, absolutely. We are saved entirely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Spiritual disciplines do not earn God’s love, favour or acceptance.
But while spiritual disciplines do not SAVE us, they do help us GROW.
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Spiritual growth does not happen accidentally
Spiritual growth does not happen by accident.
It happens when we spend time with God.
But “time with God” does not happen accidentally either.
If we do not intentionally make space for God, something else will almost always fill that space instead.
Without intentionality, our lives are all too easily shaped by:
- Hurry
- Distraction
- Noise
- Busyness
- Entertainment
- Social media
- Consumerism
- The values and priorities of the world around us
Most of these things are not necessarily bad in themselves. But together, they can slowly crowd God out of our lives without us even noticing.
We can become spiritually shallow, distracted and exhausted.
And that is exactly why spiritual disciplines matter so much.
Spiritual disciplines help reorient our lives around God
Spiritual disciplines gently push back against the chaos and distraction of modern life.
They help us:
- Slow down
- Refocus our hearts
- Quiet the noise
- Become more aware of God’s presence
- Reorient our lives around Jesus
Prayer helps reconnect us with God throughout the day.
Bible reading renews our minds with truth.
Worship lifts our eyes.
Silence and solitude help us listen.
Fasting teaches dependence on God.
Sabbath reminds us to rest and trust him.
These practices create intentional rhythms that draw us back to God again and again.
READ MORE >>> What are the core spiritual disciplines?
Spiritual disciplines are like a trellis
One helpful way to think about spiritual disciplines is like a trellis in a garden.
A trellis does not make a plant grow.
But rather a trellis supports that growth. It guides the plant in the right direction and creates the conditions necessary for healthy growth and fruitfulness.
In the same way, spiritual disciplines do not “produce” spiritual growth. Only God can truly transform our hearts. But spiritual disciplines help create the right conditions for healthy spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
They position us to regularly meet with God and be shaped by him over time.
Spiritual disciplines help us become more like Jesus
One of the main purposes of spiritual disciplines is transformation.
God’s desire is not simply that we know about Jesus, but that we become more like him.
Romans 8:29 says that believers are being “conformed to the image of his Son” (NIV).
And spiritual disciplines are one of the primary ways God shapes us over time.
As we consistently spend time with God, he gradually changes:
- The way we think
- The way we speak
- The way we respond
- The things we value
- The desires of our hearts
Over time, spiritual disciplines help us:
- Grow in our faith and our relationship with God
- Become more in tune with God: his heart, his voice and his will
- Be shaped by God and his Word, not “the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2)
- Become wiser, more loving, more joyful and more peaceful
- Grow in Christlikeness
- Bear “much fruit” (John 15:4)
Transformation usually happens slowly.
Often, we don’t even notice it day by day.
But over months and years, these small, faithful habits help to shape us.
The Bible calls us to intentional spiritual growth
The Bible repeatedly emphasises intentionality when it comes to spiritual growth.
Paul writes to Timothy:
“Train yourself to be godly.” – 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
Notice the language Paul uses: training.
Just as physical fitness develops through repeated exercise over time, spiritual maturity also develops through regular spiritual habits and practices.
Nobody accidentally becomes physically fit.
And in the same way, spiritual maturity rarely happens accidentally either.
Of course, spiritual growth is not about “trying harder” in our own strength.
Ultimately, it is God who changes us.
But spiritual disciplines help us intentionally cooperate with the work God wants to do in our lives.
They create space for us to consistently meet with God and be shaped by him over time.
READ MORE >>> What are the core spiritual disciplines?
Spiritual disciplines help us “draw near” to God
James puts it beautifully:
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” – James 4:8 (ESV)
Drawing near to God is one of the greatest joys in the Christian life.
And while God’s grace and presence are always available to us, spiritual disciplines help us intentionally create space to know him more fully and enjoy deeper intimacy with him.
They help us become more aware of a God who is already present.
They help us pay attention.
They help us remain connected to Jesus rather than drifting spiritually through life.
Jesus himself says:
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4 (NIV)
Spiritual disciplines help us “remain” or “abide” in Christ.
Spiritual disciplines help us resist spiritual drift
One of the biggest dangers in the Christian life is “drift”.
Slow spiritual drift away from God, his values and his plan for our lives.
Drift happens quietly:
- We get busy.
- We get distracted.
- We stop praying consistently.
- We stop reading Scripture regularly.
- We fill our minds with worldly values instead of truth.
- And little by little, our hearts begin to drift away from intimacy with God.
Spiritual disciplines act like anchors.
They help keep us rooted in truth and connected to God even during difficult, busy or spiritually dry seasons.
They give structure and rhythm to our spiritual lives.
And when practised consistently, they help us continue walking closely with Jesus over the long haul.
Spiritual disciplines create space for God to transform us
Ultimately, spiritual disciplines matter because they help create space for God to work in our lives:
- They slow us down.
- They quiet the noise.
- They help us fix our eyes back on Jesus.
And over time, God uses them to transform us from the inside out.
Not through legalism or perfectionism.
But through grace-filled, consistent connection with him.
Final thoughts
Spiritual disciplines are not about becoming more religious.
They are about becoming more connected to Jesus.
They are practical ways of intentionally making room for God in a distracted and hurried world.
And while they may sometimes seem simple or ordinary, God often uses these quiet, faithful practices to do deep transformational work in our hearts over time.
Because the more time we spend with Jesus…
The more we become like him.
READ MORE >>> What are the core spiritual disciplines?
READ MORE >>> How to begin practising the spiritual disciplines
The 30 Day Challenges
To help you grow in the spiritual disciplines, I have developed a series of 30 Day Challenges.
Each 30 Day Challenge focuses on just ONE spiritual discipline for 30 days.
By the end of the 30 days, not only will you have grown in that discipline and in your faith, but hopefully that spiritual discipline will have become a habit – something that is second nature to you.
And once you have completed one 30 Day Challenge, you can then focus on another, so that, over time, all of these spiritual disciplines can become incorporated into everyday life – without you having to find more than 24 hours in the day or become a monk!
To find out more about the challenges, head here: The 30 Day Challenges
Recommended books on spiritual disciplines
- Celebration Of Discipline – Richard Foster
- Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life – Donald S. Whitney
- Habits Of Grace – David Mathis
- Practising The Way – John Mark Comer
- Spirit Of The Disciplines – Dallas Willard
READ MORE >>> Recommended books on spiritual disciplines
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