I have a brother and sister who are very sports minded, they participated in many sports during their secondary school time. They lived and breathed the sports that they were in. They had set regimes that they would do to train their bodies and mind to focus on how the ball moves in their hands, where their feet should be placed, and where their teammates were standing all within a split second. They had disciplined themselves to whatever sport they were playing at the time, and this was so fluid you didn't even consider that what they were doing was disciplined at all.
Now I was more of an academic student, my focus was on making good grades, reading everything I could get my hands on, and growing my brain strength not my physical strength.
Not to say that I wouldn't play sports I did so for fun, but I never really achieved the level that my sister and brother were, and this isn't to say that they weren't good students, but they weren't as disciplined in that area as I was.
God wants for us to use that same discipline we have in sports or academia and apply it to our spiritual lives. He deserves to be praised and worshipped as stringently as you apply it to other areas of your life. Here are eight areas in which we should be aware of spiritually.
1. Meditate on God's Word: We should spend as much time in the Bible as we would in the newest best seller. Start with 5 minutes a day and soon it will become as easy as that best seller. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." ... "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Psalms 1:2, KJV.
2. Giving Thanks: Each day above ground is a blessing. Just letting God know that you are thankful for the things that He has given to you. Keep a journal and each day list five things that you are thankful for and send that to God. Psalm 100:4 (NIV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
3. Prayer: Take everything to God in prayer. It may not seem like He hears you but trust me He does. Prayer is the greatest weapon that God has given you, use it always. Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG) Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
4. Giving: You have heard that it is better to give than to recieve and in someways that is true. God love a cheerful giver and those who give will be blessed with so much more than they give. Luke 6:38 (TLB) For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give—large or small—will be used to measure what is given back to you.”
5. Serving: God has given each of us different talents to share among everyone. I have the heart to serve children, though God has been developing in me other talents that I did not know that I had. These talents you have are God's way of showing you where and how to serve, do not pass up on using these to further His will, as the person you have been sent to serve will be missing out on something special and so will you. 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.
6. Fasting: I know that this may be a hard thing for some of us to do, but it is a way to cleanse our souls and get in touch with God. This is time that is shared between Him and you. There are many ways to fast, I have started with fasting from the earthly things that take my view from God. So search your heart and pray about where or what you are using to take focus off of God and realign it. Matthew 6:16-18 (ERV) 16 “When you fast, don’t make yourselves look sad like the hypocrites. They put a look of suffering on their faces so that people will see they are fasting. The truth is, that’s all the reward they will get. 17 So when you fast, wash your face and make yourself look nice. 18 Then no one will know you are fasting, except your Father, who is with you even in private. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.
7. Meeting With Other Christians: Fellowship is the best way to connect to others. When we gather together we can uplift each other, get us fired up to do good works, learn together, hold each other accountable, and love. When we have this we can go out into the world and spread that love to everyone, just as Jesus did with the apostles. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
8. Worship: Whatever you do give praise to God. Worship is so much more then singing a few hymns, choruses, or songs. Worship is done to show God that He is the one in your life that deserves all the glory and He is worthy to be praised. So no matter what you are doing worship Him with all your heart. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NRSV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
Yours in Christ
Heather