In His Name Devotionals
TEN WAYS TO LIVE MORE SPIRITUALLY
In His Name Devotionals
TEN WAYS TO LIVE MORE SPIRITUALLY
As in most generations, lists are being published everywhere: “10 ways to improve your health,” “10 moves to get your finances under control,” “10 steps to better relationships,” etc. How about a simple list of things to enhance a Christian’s spiritual life?
1. Worship regularly and positively.
“Regularly” means daily private time in seeking god, as well as 52 Lord’s Days and other special opportunities for corporate homage to the Almighty. “Positively” refers to worship as praise, honor, and eager surrender rather than the browbeating of God’s people.
2. Pray at meals and at bedtime.
This assumes, of course, that we pray in our worship times. We pray in situations of stress, special need, or when others need our intercession. But don’t neglect the simplest and most natural times for prayer—giving thanks and reviewing your spiritual direction over a given day.
3. Read literature with affirming spiritual content.
This suggestion points to materials that underscore and emphasize the things we read directly from the Word of God in our daily worship.
4. Be involved in the life of your church.
The local church was created by God to be the focal point of Christian community and ministry. Yes, one can go to church, without being spiritual. But it is doubtful that one can maintain authentic spiritually in isolation from other believers. Don’t volunteer for a service role out of guilt but because it matches and focuses your gifts.
5. Tithe.
Giving 10 percent was specifically commanded in the Law of Moses. Do we really think our greater blessedness in Christ was meant to reduce our level of generosity? Isn’t it more likely that a tithe should be the floor for a Christian’s giving, not its ceiling? If we haven’t tithed, let’s begin by increasing the giving percentage from our incomes by a few points this year—until we are giving at least that much a couple of years from now.
6. Learn a confessional lifestyle.
Sin must be confessed to be forgiven and to have its harms cured. So develop a trust relationship with a few people whose passion for Christ stirs up your own, and be forthcoming and vulnerable in their midst. “He who is alone with his sins is truly alone,” claimed Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
7. Minister to someone who is struggling.
Don’t make someone a “project.” Instead, befriend someone with an especially heavy load. Invest your heart, time, and resources in helping bear that person’s burden. Paul said that doing so fulfills Christ’s law about loving one another. Be humble enough to accept help from others when you are under pressure.
8. Share the Gospel with one person.
Perhaps we can’t personally “go into all the world” to preach Christ, but we can let one person know the difference Jesus has made in our lives in the coming year. Perhaps it will be the person in #7 above. Maybe it will be someone we don’t know yet. Pray for that person to be in your life in 2002, and it will be God’s responsibility to supply him or her to you.
9. Embrace joy as a way of life.
The God who gives every good things humans ever experience clearly has joy at the heart of His plan for His creatures. The ultimate Joy-Giver Who came to supply abundant life to all is Jesus. So why do so many Christians appear to be either bored or cynical with life? Learn to celebrate God and to revel in Him every day.
10. Don’t be shocked by setbacks and trouble.
God hasn’t failed us on the days that are difficult. He is just letting us live in the same world everyone else experiences. He isn’t trampling on us when we get sick or suffer financial reverses, struggle with our children or fight depression, see the aftermath of terrorism on CNN or FOX or feel queasy about the economy. This is a world that has been blighted by sin, and its consequences are everywhere.
You’re right. There is nothing stunning or novel in this list. It is just a collection of simple advice most of us know to be right. But that’s the way all such New Year’s lists work! They just bring us back to basics about money, health, and other things. So maybe it is worth reading after all—and keeping handy as a reminder tool for the rest of the year.
