11. My spiritual disciplines require effort, but they are not a heavy burden on me.

(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.) 

REFLECT ON YOUR DOMINANT FEELINGS ABOUT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES. DO YOU CONSIDER THEM TO BE HEAVY, LIGHT, WORK, INVITING, UNPLEASANT, THINGS I SHOULD DO, OR PERHAPS LIKE MEDICINE THAT “TASTES BAD BUT IS GOOD FOR YOU”?

HOW MANY OF YOUR SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES DO YOU DO AT LEAST PARTLY BECAUSE YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE DOING THEM?

WHEN JESUS SAYS, “MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT” (MATTHEW 11:30 NIV), WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT?

Often, the idea of spiritual disciplines carries with it the thought that they are difficult and burdensome. We might think about the early desert fathers and mothers who gave up every comfort to live an extreme life of discipline and discomfort. Or we may have modern day people who tell us of their own practice of disciplines: fasting, long periods of prayer, diligent Bible reading, etc.

It’s not surprising that we might think of spiritual disciplines as hard and burdensome. But spiritual disciplines do not need to be burdensome. That is not to say that they will not require effort—they do—but how we receive them doesn’t need to be unpleasant. Let’s examine a few suggestions for how this can work. First, our posture toward disciplines is important. It will be helpful if we see disciplines as simply things we do for our own good. We are not slaves to our disciplines and there is much grace, from ourselves and from God, for when we fail to meet our goals.

Like anyone learning a new skill, practice makes perfect and the process is full of imperfections. (Think of a child learning to play the trumpet. Lots of “noise” happens before the music comes.) A second suggestion is to make sure that the discipline “invites” you rather than “guilts” you. We may be tempted to take up disciplines that we, or someone else, thinks are good for us but there is no draw, no sense of excitement or hopefulness. Just as a rope is made to be pulled not pushed, so it should be with spiritual disciplines: they should pull us, not push us. It can be helpful to have a clear understanding of how this discipline will bring wholeness or goodness into your life.

Along with this vision of and desire for abundance, we will do best when we focus on the abundance rather than the discipline. A final suggestion is to avoid comparing ourselves, our progress, and our disciplines to others. Each person is created uniquely, and our practice of spiritual disciplines will be different from others’.

Comparing ourselves to others only creates guilt, envy, or pride. Wisdom says, “Do what you can, not what you can’t.” It may be helpful to imagine that we are like children playing on a colossal playground with access to various toys and equipment. We try various games and activities.

Some we may find enjoyable, some not; some may be difficult others simple; some require strength and agility others are less demanding. Overall, however, our experience will be full of joy, wonder, experiment, exploration, growth, and sometimes failure. We may get dirty, sore, bruised, and tired but the playground draws us back. The joy is worth the pain, and we long for more “playtime.”

God calls His playground a Kingdom, and our kingdom life of spiritual disciplines is like growing up on His cosmic playground.