10. I am finding that laws I once followed out of obedience, have become disciplines, and that some disciplines have become practices.

(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.) 

As parents, we often place rules on our children that we resisted when we were a child. Why do you think this might be?

Are there spiritual activities that you enjoy doing that you once resisted?

What do you imagine God desires for us when He invites us to engage in spiritual activities: laws, disciplines, and practices?

When you think of your spiritual activities, do you engage in them because you believe they are, in some way, good for God or because you think they are good for you?

Reflect on the idea that as we grow in our spiritual lives, our activities will take on new meaning and value for us. Have you seen this to be true in your life?

The three categories of spiritual activities, laws, disciplines and practices, are defined by our level or source of motivation. With laws, our motivation is to obey God; with disciplines our motive is for our own growth and maturity; and with practices the motive is our own sense of joy. 

It is important to note that these categories have some fluidity and that the lines separating each are sometimes blurred and not fixed. For example, we may understand that loving our enemy is a command that Jesus gives us, but it is also good for me to love my enemy and not hold bitterness, resentment and conflict. Another example is generosity. We can practice generosity because we know that it is good for us, but we can also find joy in giving. 

It is helpful to understand that our spiritual activities have the potential to change in the way we use and experience them. My personal example of this has to do with Sabbath. As a businessman, it was sometimes difficult for me to observe the Old Testament command of Sabbath. At certain times of the year there would be a lot of pressure to work on Sunday. As one who wanted to please my Lord, I chose not to work or have employees work on this day. For me this was a law. Over time, however, I came to understand, especially by observing competitors, that working on Sunday had serious negative implications: employee fatigue, increased occurrences of accidents, overall decline in production, and lots of owner stress. I began to practice Sabbath because I understood that it was good for me, my employees and consequently for my business. It had become a discipline. Eventually, as my family can attest, I began to enjoy, even relish, Sundays. A special breakfast, fellowship with people we know and love, family meals at dinner time and a long afternoon nap. Sabbath has now become a practice for me; it connects me to Jesus and brings me joy. 

As we experience the transformation of our hearts and the healing of our souls, nearly every spiritual activity can become a practice, something that brings joy to our lives. As our activities connect us to the source of joy, the Spirit, we will become less aware of the practice and more “consumed” by the love of God. 

Likely, we will always have some spiritual activities that remain simply laws, but as we patiently engage in those activities that connect us to God, His Spirit will change us. The way we experience our spiritual activities will increasingly bring more and more joy to our relationship with Jesus.