Daily Disciplines of a Devoted Disciple
- by: Rhonda Kelley 06/30/08
It happened again this morning! I woke up and began to move. I sat up to get out of bed and my body was so stiff. I have to admit though I don't want to . . . I am getting older! I am reminded of this every day. My stiff body needs exercise each morning to loosen my muscles. There is a spiritual parallel.
I have been a Christian since I was six. After years of salvation, my spirit can get stagnant or stiff if I am not growing in faith. Physically I need regular exercise to be mobile, and spiritually I need daily discipline to be strong in my faith. Both are essential to my overall well-being!
Paul the apostle found daily discipline to be necessary while he was in prison or in the world. Like me, he didn't want to grow old and stiff. He challenged his friends in Ephesus, and Paul encourages us today to discipline our faith daily.
In the book of Ephesians, Paul suggests three daily disciplines or positions of faith. Faithful Christians must BOW, WALK and STAND in order to remain strong. I find that if I bow, walk and stand I am strengthened physically and spiritually. Maybe it is time for you to join me in practicing these positions of faith!
BOW. Followers of Christ are to bow before the Father in reverence and prayer. Why should we bow and pray? Specifically, we are to pray so we will be strengthened with power, rooted and grounded in love, and filled with the fullness of God (Eph. 3:14-21). That three-fold prayer will develop the foundation of our faith.
WALK. Also, we must walk worthy of our calling to follow Him. How should we walk? The Scripture says we are to walk in love, walk in the light, and walk in wisdom (Eph. 5:1-21).
Following God's spiritual exercise plan will determine the fitness of our faith.
STAND. Finally, we should stand firm in faith. What can we do to stand firm? We must get dressed for battle daily and put on our warfare wardrobe: (1) belt of truth, (2) armor of righteousness, (3) sandals of readiness, (4) shield of faith, (5) helmet of salvation, and (6) sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:10-20). Our daily spiritual wardrobe will decide the firmness of our faith.
So as you wake up in the morning and feel the stiffness in your body. Remember to move, loosen your muscles and get going. Also, be reminded to get your spiritual life moving. Position yourself for growth-BOW, WALK, and STAND in your faith. Practice your daily disciplines. Then you will be a devoted disciple, fit for service!
Lord, I don't like the feeling of stiffness physically and I don't like to be stagnant spiritually, so help me to get moving! I renew my commitment to you and to the spiritual disciplines that will make me a devoted disciple. Thank you for your patience and strength! Amen.