23. My spiritual community is essential in helping me practice spiritual disciplines.

(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.) 

WHO ARE THE SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU ON YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY?

WHAT ROLE HAVE THEY PLAYED IN YOUR JOURNEY?

WHEN YOU THINK OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, HOW HAVE THESE SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE ASSISTED YOU?

Although we are individuals and our relationship with God is between ourselves and God, much of our spiritual life depends on others, especially our spiritual community. Spiritual community is not just helpful in our spiritual journey, it is essential. By spiritual community we mean a small group of people who gather with us, encourage us, share with us, and create the space for us to see how God works in others.

Our spiritual community is a place where we can practice and develop our character and skills in “loving others” and much more. Spiritual disciplines are useful in helping us come to love God, but we will never fully love God if we do not also learn to love others. Spiritual communities are the primary place where we learn to love each other as Jesus taught us. They also help support us in our disciplines, give us guidance and suggestions in our disciplines, and show us how they implement their disciplines.

Finally, spiritual community can also itself be a discipline for us. We may not always want to give ourselves to a community, to submit to others, to care for others, and to learn from others, but this is one of the most important components of our spiritual journey and there may be times when we choose community, not because we like it, but because we know that it is good for us.