Rules versus Desire for God
by Laura Dingman
Discipline
It’s a word that carries some baggage at times. It’s not surprising, though. The dictionary defines the word “discipline” as a noun in two distinctly different ways. The first definition is “training to act in accordance with rules.” This definition typically stirs, in me anyway, a bit of angst with a sprinkle of fear: fear of failure, fear of not measuring up, fear of not doing enough. I’ll admit, it feels a bit like a yoke. The second definition says “discipline” is “an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill.” While this explanation is a bit less fear inducing, it still leaves something to be desired.
Maybe you find yourself trying harder, determined to have a disciplined life, working to be better constantly. Maybe there are some areas where you have conquered a life of discipline and have built some habits that lead to flourishing. But my guess is that there may still be a part of you that is left longing for something.
What if stronger disciplines aren’t about the rules or building greater skill? What if we began to connect our spiritual disciplines to our desire for God? How would inviting the Holy Spirit to fuel your practices, meeting you in the discipline itself, change you?
As a recovering perfectionist, and dare I say a recovering Pharisee as well, I have struggled, striving to reach a “goal” of being disciplined in my walk with the Lord. Making space for Scripture reading and prayer, tightening up my behavior. Can you relate? Maybe for you it isn’t so much striving as it is shame. You have tried over and over again to create some spiritual habits and just can’t get it done the way you’d like, so it feels overwhelming.
What would you think if I told you it really doesn’t have to be difficult? Listen to the words of Jesus that Eugene Peterson paraphrased in Matthew 11:28-30.
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Stronger disciplines begin with our desire to be with God. Jesus invites us to come to him; to take his yoke, which is easy and light; to keep company with Him. Adele Calhoun, the author of the Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, writes,
Throughout centuries the disciples of prayer, confession, worship, stewardship, fellowship, service, attending to Scripture and the Lord’s supper have remained constant channels and disciplines of grace. These time-resilient disciplines give the church in every age and culture ways to keep company with Jesus. In Christ’s presence, temptations, weaknesses, sin, and life’s desires and desperations are addressed. It is not spiritual disciplines per se that transform us into the likeness of Christ. Without the work of God’s Spirit within us, practices guarantee nothing…They simply put us in a place where we can begin to notice God and respond to his word to us.1
The practice of stronger disciplines will get us nowhere if our focus is not a growing intimacy with our Lord. Spiritual disciplines in and of themselves are just rules and regulations without the presence of Christ fueling them. Paul points to this in Colossians as he is reminding the church at Colossae of the Pharisaical rules and regulations circling in their conversations. He says, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Col. 2:23 NIV)
Self-control without partnership with the Holy Spirit is simply willpower. If we want to find lasting transformation and true intimacy with the Lord, we must invite Him to lead and guide our rhythms of spiritual disciplines.
So, when was the last time you thought about this reality: The God of the universe longs to be with you? Don’t skip past this too quickly. Seriously. Close your eyes and take a breath and think about this statement: The Creator of all things desires your presence with Him. How does that hit you?
If your personal practices are not resulting in you being a conduit to the presence of God, your spiritual disciplines probably need some restructuring or new vision. Maybe you need some time to ask the Lord to reveal to you where and how your disciplines need strengthened. Those we minister to and with do not need more of our presence in their lives. At the end of the day, what do we really have to bring to the table?
And this is the great mystery of God, that He who does not need us, chooses to partner with us to build His Kingdom. What a gift of grace we’ve been given! Allow this great God to guide you as you build stronger disciplines that grow you in the image of Jesus.
1. Adele Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us, (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2015), 20.
Suggested resources:
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton
Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith
