Spriritual Disciplines in Proper Perspective

The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg
(My Thoughts)

Chapter 3

Spiritual disciplines are not a barometer of spirituality nor are they ways to earn God’s favor. I already have God’s favor and am already accepted by God through Christ.

Spiritual disciplines “have value only insofar as they help me morph” (page 46)…"Our task is to use these activities to create opportunities for God to work” (page 52).

If I truly understand these truths, I can learn to relax and enjoy those disciplines (reading the Word, prayer, etc…). The goal isn’t how many verses I read or to see if I can pray more than yesterday, rather the goal is to have God transform my life through these activities.

So reading, meditating and applying one verse is better than reading the entire book of Psalms in one sitting and thinking I am more spiritual for doing so. A sincere two-minute prayer of repentance and surrender is better than 1 hour of boisterous prayer if it was meant to impress others with my passion.

Our attitude behind every spiritual act is more important than the acts themselves.

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:9-14