What are Spiritual Disciplines?
Rev Charlie (March 2026)
During Lent, we give particular attention to ‘Spiritual Disciplines,’ but what are they and why do they matter?
Before we can grasp what spiritual disciplines are, it is important to understand what they are not. They are not a way to secure a right relationship with God. Our salvation, or our transfer from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus (Col. 1: 13), is not dependent on what we do, but on what Jesus has done for us. On the cross he opened the way for us to receive forgiveness and everlasting life. We lay hold of this gift through repentance (turning away from all we know to be wrong), and faith (placing our complete trust in Jesus). We contribute no more to our salvation than a drowning man contributes to his rescue by clinging to the life buoy thrown to him.
Nor are spiritual disciplines a way of ‘twisting God’s arm’ to get what we want. God does answer our prayers, but no amount of prayer and fasting will guarantee that our prayers are answered in the way that we might hope.
Having established what spiritual disciplines are not, we now turn to what they are, namely practices that enable us to have an intimate relationship with God and grow in the Christian life. One could question whether, ‘discipline’ is the best word to use, as we sometimes ‘discipline’ ourselves to do unpleasant things simply because we know they are good for us. However, any practice that brings us closer to God ought to be a joy and a delight to us, and something that we look forward to.
The Bible never provides a list of spiritual disciplines, and the phrase itself does not appear in Scripture. Nevertheless, these practices are woven throughout the biblical story and clearly visible in the life of Jesus. From the Gospels alone it is easy to find examples of solitude, prayer, fasting, giving, the study of God’s word, and worship. Jesus had a perfect relationship with his Father in heaven, and one that Christians should imitate, however imperfectly. When Jesus taught about giving, fasting and prayer, he assumed that his followers would do those things, saying, ‘When you give…,’ ‘When you pray…,’ and ‘When you fast…’
Jesus also emphasised our motivation. If we practise these disciplines to be seen or admired, they amount to nothing. Similarly, if we do them out of a sense of obligation, or as an expression of legalism, we miss the point entirely. The only right motivation is that we love the Lord and want to draw close to him so that we might be progressively changed and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we journey through Lent, let us refocus on the Gospel and all it means for our lives, and cultivate habits that strengthen our relationship with the Lord.
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4: 8
