Discipline isn’t sexy. It’s hard work. It’s heavy lifting. It’s early mornings. It’s sacrifice.

Spiritual disciplines are no different.

Christians hear the term spiritual discipline and they almost immediately go in their minds to thoughts of impossibility or passivity. Disciplines seem impossible because they require DISCIPLINE! Most of us hate discipline. As humans, most of us rebel against discipline because we view spiritual disciplines like most children view the discipline of a parent. A spanking is something to be avoided at all costs because it is painful and restricts us from doing the things we really want to do.

Others of us view disciplines as soft, passive, artsy-fartsy, etc. Disciplines are for those who would rather avoid culture and hole up in a cave somewhere than hang out with real people. Spiritual disciplines are just not attractive so many people avoid them.

But spiritual disciplines are, despite our preconceptions, very good for us and can enhance not only our relationship with God but with other people as well. A spiritual discipline is making a habit out of engaging with God and people by putting into practice the things that you would not naturally do on your own.

The key to understanding and putting into practice all spiritual disciplines is desire. Remember, all discipline, including spiritual disciplines, is a framework that has to be placed over us, a regimen we have to enter into because we naturally rebel against discipline. We need spiritual disciplines because we don’t naturally pursue God. We need spiritual disciplines because we don’t naturally pursue meaningful relationships. We need spiritual disciplines because it is not our habit to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Discipline will always seem like a burden unless we understand the desire behind the discipline. If the desire for a discipline is simply to get a quick fix of spirituality, you will not develop a habit of walking daily with God. If the desire for a discipline is to get God off your back through religious duty, you probably will not develop a habit of accepting the grace God extends through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

If your desire, however, is to develop a lasting, powerful relationship with God and to grow in knowledge and experience of him in your life, then you are likely to develop meaningful interaction with God through spiritual disciplines.

Join us for the next five weeks as The Journey goes to Training Camp, pursuing and practicing spiritual disciplines as a church. It won’t be easy. It might not be pretty. But it will be worth it. Are you ready?