“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

The spiritual disciplines are designed to bring us closer to God.  I like how John Ortberg describes these spiritual disciplines as practices, because they do take practice.  Just like when we practice a musical instrument or sport, we can benefit from instruction, coaching, and repetition in our spiritual walk.  Practice should make the spiritual discipline easier, and it should help us to improve.

In Ortberg’s book, How to Have the Life You’ve Always Wanted, the first spiritual discipline he writes about is the practice of celebration.  That got me hooked!  He says that we are invited to rejoice in every moment of life because every moment of life is a gift.  He says that when we are not fully present, not aware of the voice and purpose of God, we are almost literally killing time.  And this is what really got me:  He said that when I wait without experiencing joy, it is likely because I am preoccupied with self.  Busted!

That reference to killing time reminded me of a message from Rick Warren a few years ago in one of his Daily Hope devotions.  He said, “We all have the same amount of time every week: 168 hours. It’s what you do with it that counts! You only have a certain number of days you’ve been allotted in this world, and if you blow them, you’ve blown it! If you waste time, you’re wasting your life. If you kill time, you’re committing suicide. Your time is your life.”

We all want to spend time doing Kingdom work, but this is a reminder that our thought life is as much or more important to our daily walk.  I challenge us all to practice focusing our minds on God, His attributes, His faithfulness.  I challenge us all to intentionally look for God at work and celebrate every good and perfect gift.  I challenge us all to have a biblical perspective as we view our lives and evaluate others and our relationships with them.  And remember, when we wait (whether it’s in the grocery line, in the doctor’s office, or for the meeting to start), think on God and be joyful.

This is what we have to rejoice about:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.  Hallelujah!!

Blessings,

Judy