Are you new to the Christian faith and wondering, “Now what?” Maybe you’ve been a Christian for a while, but things feel a bit stale. Whatever brought you here, I’m excited to introduce you to four spiritual disciplines that should be a part of every Christian’s daily walk!

To get the FREE PDFs, all you’ll need to do is click on the link for the discipline you’re interested in. Once the next screen opens you’ll find links throughout the blog.

What are spiritual disciplines?

Donald S. Whitney, in his book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,* says…

Christians are called to make themselves do something they would not naturally do--pursue the Spiritual Disciplines--in order to become what they've always wanted to be, that is, like Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Disciplines are things we do, sometimes against our own will, to be conformed into the image of Christ. I’ll share four disciplines in this blog, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. Considering the good of others above your own is a spiritual discipline. Submitting to your husband or loving your wife like Christ loved the Church are both spiritual disciplines.

Those things aren’t making our list today, but I believe that if you focus on the four that do make the cut, the others will come. It’s important to remember, though, that spiritual disciplines aren’t the end-all-be-all. They’re just the means for what we’re truly after.

Here’s what Richard Foster says in his book, Celebration of Discipline*…

Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.

You can have every word of the Bible committed to memory and miss Jesus. You can pray every single day and have a heart that’s far away from Christ. Behavior modification isn’t what God is after. He’s after your heart.

Does that mean God is happy with ungodly behavior? No, but the Bible makes things pretty clear. When our hearts are soft for the things of God our behavior will change. The opposite, however, is not guaranteed. So, as you’re looking through the remainder of the blog ask the Lord, “What from this list will help me have a heart that pleases you?” If he points you in a certain direction, definitely start there.

Four Spiritual Disciplines for Every Believer

1. Faith Meets Life: The SOAPS Bible Study Method

SOAPS is an acronym and it stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer, Share. The original version of this method was just SOAP, but somewhere along the line ‘Share’ was added, and if you read the blog you’ll see why I prefer SOAPS over SOAP.

This Bible study method isn’t the only way to read, study, and apply scripture. It’s just super easy and really common. Whether you use SOAP, SOAPS, or some other process, diving into Scripture is essential for believers. It’s where we learn about Jesus, our Creator, His plan for our life, and His plan for the world. Don’t miss it!

2. Pray Confidently: The ACTS Prayer Model

Prayer and confidence. Do those words go together for you? In this blog, I’ll explain each of the four parts of the ACTS Prayer Method and how I use them in my own prayer life.

Each element allows us to connect with the Lord in a way that’s necessary and good for our souls, and I think when we pray all four elements together it causes us to slow down and rest in Christ alone. It’s not the only way to pray, but it is a great way to feel confident when you pray.

3. CLEAR Christian Meditation: How to do it + why it’s ok

Christian Meditation. You’re either all about it or think that phrase is an oxymoron. In this blog, I’ll start by distinguishing between the different types of meditation – what they are and what makes them either good or bad. Then, I’ll share what CLEAR Meditation is and give you a free printable so you can start doing it on your own.

This blog and the one below are both near and dear to my heart. SOAPS and ACTS are acronyms that someone else came up with. CLEAR and HEAR are my own. They represent the ways that I personally meditate and listen to God, and I’m so glad to share them with you!

4. Listening Prayer: How to HEAR God’s Voice

This blog is an adaptation of one I wrote almost six months prior. Oftentimes my prayers are packed with one-way communication. I speak and expect God to listen, but lately, I’ve been overcome with this thought – what if God wants to speak and expects me to listen?

The listening prayer I included in the blog isn’t some magic formula. God has never audibly spoken to me, but I have had him speak to my soul. There’s no explaining what that’s like, but I pray the Holy Spirit will use this prayer format to speak to your soul, too.

What Spiritual Disciplines are Right for You?

That’s a loaded question. The best way to figure that out is to ask, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” If you feel drawn to one discipline over the other three, then start there.

If you’re still not sure, don’t stress. The Christian life isn’t about making a series of right steps. It’s more about just making moves in the right direction. I personally love God’s Word, so I would recommend starting with the SOAPS method and getting familiar with the Bible.

Whatever you do, run after Jesus. If you keep doing that, you can’t go wrong 🙂

Because there’s a better way,
Sarah

question: what spiritual discipline are you most excited to start implementing in your life?

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