How can worship be a discipline?
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Sometimes when that alarm clock goes off on Sunday morning that question (the title) is easy to answer. It takes some self discipline to get things rolling and get everyone out the door. But that’s really not what we’re talking about in chapter 11 of Foster’s book. It’s not the focus for Sunday’s sermon either which centers around Isaiah 6:1-8.
What we’re talking about is “an ordered way of acting and living that sets us before God so that He can transform us.” It not a Sunday morning thing. It’s ALL THE TIME. It’s not about singing, clapping, standing or sitting. It’s a lifestyle.
For me the word that comes to mind is “communing.” I want to commune with Christ and make Him a part of my thoughts, my conversations, my work, my rest, my everything. Paul references this concept in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. That’s how worship can become a true spiritual discipline.
What do you do in your everyday life to cultivate that communion… without ceasing? Share one of the habits that you are working on in this area, or perhaps share your struggle. We’re here to encourage each other as we strive to answer when God is calling.
No. 1 — March 5th, 2010 at 5:54 am
You are so right Jonathan. Becoming a trusting desciple requires a mind set that “sets you apart”. We are driven by Christs’ presence. We see things differently through Christ’s eyes. All one has to do is look at their adult life prior to Christ’s partnership and then when you accepted Christ completely, body, mind and soul to compare the change in your mind set. But we have to make the decision to follow Christ daily. It is not that our Lord is going to tell us what to do every minute of every day. Only if we come to Him will He guide us. One of the things that has made a difference in my life in a big way is memorization. I did a little in acting and some classes in school required certain poems or public speaches like..four score and seven years ago our fathers……but never the Bible. I find that memorizing a verse every month (my comminttment is to memorize a verse every month for the rest of my life) keeps God’s word alive in me and it always amazes me how the scripture is so needed at different times to get Christ’s perspective. I recommmend it to all my friends, Christians and others as well(the ones we and Jesus are working on).