SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES - PDF Free Download

DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER A Study Based on Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life By Donald S. Whitney PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE

BIBLE INTAKE LEARNING JOURNALING PRAYER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES WORSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF SILENCE & SOLITUDE GODLINESS FASTING EVANGELISM SERVICE STEWARDSHIP

SO... HOW WE DOING?

SILENCE & SOLITUDE SILENCE IS THE VOLUNTARY AND TEMPORARY ABSTENTION FROM SPEAKING SO THAT CERTAIN SPIRITUAL GOALS MIGHT BE MET. SOLITUDE IS THE VOLUNTARY AND TEMPORARY WITHDRAWING TO PRIVACY FOR SPIRITUAL PURPOSES. Donald Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

REASONS FOR SILENCE & SOLITUDE To be like Jesus To hear the voice of God better To express inexpressible worship to God To express faith in God To seek the salvation of the Lord To be physically & spiritually restored To regain a spiritual perspective To seek the will of God

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE MINUTE RETREATS USE YOUR QUIET TIME IN THE SHOWER BIBLE INTAKE DRIVING IN THE CAR PRAYER WALKING FROM THE CAR TO YOUR OFFICE AT YOUR DESK MAKE YOUR QUIET TIME REALLY QUIET GET AWAY GO AWAY TO AN EMPTY, QUIET PLACE FOR 30 MIN-1 HR. GO AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS TAKE NOTHING BUT A BIBLE AND A JOURNAL HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE A SPECIAL WALKING ROUTE OR TRAIL A QUIET ROOM @ WORK A SPECIAL PLACE @ HOME

LAST WEEK S HOMEWORK Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness by committing to one or more of the following: 1. DETERMINE A TIME, A PLACE, AND A PURPOSE FOR WITHDRAWING INTO SILENCE AND SOLITUDE 2. PRACTICE IT SOMETIME THIS WEEK!

JOURNALING

WHO HAS EVER KEPT A JOURNAL?

WHAT IS A JOURNAL? A JOURNAL IS A PLACE (TANGIBLE OR DIGITAL) IN WHICH A PERSON RECORDS INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO HIM OR HER PERSONALLY FOR PRESERVATION OR CONSIDERATION Donald Whitney Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

IS JOURNALING REALLY A BIBLICAL SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE? JOURNALING IS NOT MANDATED IN THE BIBLE BUT A FORM OF JOURNALING IS MODELED KING DAVID POURED OUT HIS SOUL TO GOD IN THE SCROLLS OF THE PSALMS

WHY JOURNAL? The Spiritual Disciplines are a PRACTICAL set of activities that help us in our PURSUIT of realizing the fullness of His gracious PROVISION. The goal of becoming more like Jesus should be the main reason we choose to discipline ourselves to Journal

8 POTENTIAL BENEFITS 1. SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATION 5. CREATING / PRESERVING A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE 2. MEDITATION 6. CLARIFYING / ARTICULATING INSIGHTS 3. EXPRESSING FEELINGS TO THE LORD 7. MONITORING GOALS AND PRIORITIES 4. REMEMBERING THE LORD S WORK 8. MAINTAINING THE OTHER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

HELP IN SELF-UNDERSTANDING & EVALUATION Psalm 51:1-4 1 As he puts thought to paper, David realizes the magnitude of his sin. Without the knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God ~ John Calvin ~ Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.

HELP IN MEDITATION Psalm 103:6-10 6 Reflecting on the ways and wonders of God in the Scriptures, David draws some conclusions concerning grace. For many of us we listen better when we take notes The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel. 8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

HELP IN EXPRESSING THOUGHTS & FEELINGS TO THE LORD Psalm 42:1-6 The writer pours his heart out onto paper causing him to turn his eyes toward his God. A journal can be the means for the intangible grays of mind-work and heart-work to distill clearly into black and white 1As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, Where is your God? 4These things I remember, as I pour out my soul... 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation 6and my God.

HELP IN REMEMBERING THE LORD S WORK David would be able to go back to his journal, read again of God s great salvation, and respond again with great praise. If a man write little, he had need a great memory ~ Francis Bacon ~ Psalm 18:46-50 46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation 47the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, 48who delivered me from my enemies; yes, You exalted me above those who rose against me; You rescued me from the man of violence. 49For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to Your name. 50 Great salvation He brings to His king, and shows steadfast love to His anointed...

HELP IN CREATING & PRESERVING A SPIRITUAL HERITAGE Asaph put pen to paper in order to pass on sayings of old that our fathers have told us, that the next generation would hope in God Never underestimate the power of a written record of faith acting as a spiritual time capsule ~ Donald Whitney~ Psalm 78:4-7 4 We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and the wonders that He has done... 6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, 7so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.

HELP IN CLARIFYING & ARTICULATING INSIGHTS As he writes, it becomes clear to the journaler that the way of the world and the way of the Word are mutually exclusive. Thoughts disentangle themselves when passed through the lips and across the fingertips ~ Dawson Trotman ~ Psalm 1:1-3 1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

HELP IN MONITORING GOALS & PRIORITIES Psalm 101:1-4 David pledges to his journal his to dos and his not to dos. 1I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to You, O LORD, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will You come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

HELP IN MONITORING GOALS & PRIORITIES Psalm 119:57-60 The songwriter makes a promise to their journal to live by God s Word. A journal is a good way to keep before us the things we want to do and emphasize 57 The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep Your words. 58I entreat Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. 59When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; 60 I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.

HELP IN MAINTAINING THE OTHER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES The psalmist checks the box... he memorized the Word in order to fulfill his vow to follow the Word. Psalm 119:11, 105-106 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 105 There will be no marked growth in Christian holiness if we do not labor to overcome our natural disinclination towards secret spiritual exercise ~ Maurice Roberts ~ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.

WAYS TO KEEP A JOURNAL THE METHOD YOU FIND MOST EDIFYING AND USEFUL IN YOUR PURSUIT OF GODLINESS IS THE WAY YOU SHOULD KEEP A JOURNAL

DO IT AS WITH ALL THE DISCIPLINES:... YOU MUST START JOURNALING BEFORE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE ITS VALUE... JOURNALING CAN BE FRUITFUL AT ANY LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT... JOURNALING REQUIRES PERSISTENCE THROUGH THE DRY TIMES... IT IS NOT ABOUT WRITING FOR THE SAKE OF WRITING, BUT WRITING FOR THE PURPOSE OF GODLINESS

FINAL THOUGHT Let's make clear that Jesus did not live and die for sinners to turn us into journal-keepers. He came to make us right with God. But once we are right with God through repentance and faith in who Jesus is and what He has done, a journal can be, as millions of those right with God throughout history have found, a great tool for thinking about and applying the life and death of Jesus. Specifically, your journal is a place to reflect upon God s Word and the riches of God s grace to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how we move forward in enjoying those riches. ~ Donald Whitney ~

SO... HOW S THE HOMEWORK GOING? 60 # 50 For the purpose of godliness, I have taken steps to begin, renew, or enhance my practice of these disciplines: of People 53 # of Responses 44 40 Prayer 31 Bible Intake 24 30 Silence & Solitude 21 Worship Service Stewardship 15 Evangelism 13 Fasting 11 9 9 20 10 Haven't Started 3 0 # of People # of Bible Intake Responses Prayer Worship Evangelism Service Stewardship Fasting Silence & Solitude Haven't Started

HOMEWORK Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness by committing to one or more of the following: 1. IF YOU VE NEVER REGULARLY WRITTEN IN A JOURNAL, TRY IT 2. IF YOU VE FALLEN OUT OF THE HABIT, REVIVE IT 3. IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY KEEPING A JOURNAL, KEEP AT IT

JOURNALING

DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE