Since the beginning of the year, I have been preaching through Paul’s letter of 1 Thessalonians. We’ve been taking a pretty deep dive, and examining Paul’s instructions and encouragement in detail. In doing so, I have been struck by the frequency of the concept of thankfulness found in this short letter. It might not be too much of a stretch to say that the notion of gratitude is an underlying theme throughout.

Gratitude is so much more than just a polite “thank you” or a warm feeling after receiving a gift. In the spiritual life, gratitude is a spiritual discipline necessary for transformation. It’s a mindset and an attitude. Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians offers a powerful example of how gratitude and thankfulness are not only central to our daily lives, but also an essential ingredient for deep and lasting spiritual growth.

In the first two chapters of Paul’s letter, he expresses an overflowing thankfulness for the Thessalonian believers. And his words are not just warm wishes or a pleasant courtesy. He provides a theological lens through which he interprets their faith and transformation. As I have studied this letter, I have found at least four reasons why gratitude is critical for our spiritual formation.

Gratitude Recognized God’s Work In Our Lives

From the very beginning of the letter, Paul begins to build a firm foundation of thankfulness. His very first sentence states, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thess. 1:2). Paul doesn’t thank the Thessalonian believers for being amazing in themselves; he thanks God for what he is doing in them. In doing so, his gratitude acknowledges God’s activity in our lives. You and I are nothing in ourselves, but in every way shaped by God. Recognizing this develops humility and trust, and deepens our reliance upon him for every need.

Gratitude, then, becomes an exercise in spiritual sight. It develops our ability to see God’s fingerprints on every circumstance we face, on every event that occurs, and on every person we interact with. When we live in a mindset of thankfulness, we are reminded that we are not alone, and that the growth we experience is the fruit of God’s work in our lives.

Gratitude Strengthens Our Faith And Encourages Endurance

In the same thought, Paul adds another reason for thankfulness. He says that he is “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:3). Paul is not only thankful for their faith, but for the way their faith results in action — in work, in labor, and in endurance. These were not actions that the Thessalonians developed in easy comfort; they were being persecuted for their faith in Christ. Paul knows this, and is thankful that they are persevering.

Gratitude helps to keep us anchored when the storms of life come. When we thank God in the midst of our suffering, we make a declaration that he is still good, that he is still present, and that he is still at work, even if the circumstances suggest otherwise. This perspective builds resilience, helping us to press on.

Thankfulness reframes our pain. It does not deny suffering; it adds a layer of meaning to it. When we can be thankful even in the darkest moments, we’re not giving up… we’re growing up.

Gratitude Builds Christ-Centered Community

In the next chapter, Paul expresses his affection to the Thessalonian believers: “Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:8).

Being thankful fosters connection. Paul’s expression of thankfulness isn’t just a random statement, or an abstract thought. It’s relational. His love and appreciation resulted in a shared life and a shared mission. When we live with grateful hearts, we become more open, more generous, and more connected.

Maintaining an attitude of gratitude prevents comparison and competition. It replaces envy with celebration. In a community built upon Christ, gratitude becomes the glue that binds believers together in love, encouragement, and purpose. It fosters an environment of honor and appreciation, and we all grow together.

And perhaps most importantly, when we’re thankful for one another, we build each other up. Gratitude is encouraging, and it is contagious. It spreads through all of our relationships.

Gratitude Keeps The Focus On God’s Faithfulness

While thankfulness is a recurring theme in this letter, so is God’s faithfulness. Paul recognizes that the spiritual fruit the Thessalonian believers are developing has been initiated by God. He thanks God for choosing them (1 Thess. 1:4), for the work of the gospel in their lives (1 Thess. 1:5), and for the way they have become an example worth imitating (1 Thess. 1:7). And in chapter 2, he thanks God again. “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).

Gratitude helps us to remember. It points us back to God’s consistent goodness and his active presence in our lives. In a world that often seems chaotic and discouraging, thankfulness reminds us that God is not finished. He’s still speaking to us. He’s still working on us. He’s still transforming us to look more like him.

To cultivate a heart of gratitude is to train ourselves to look for God in all things. When we do, we’re more lined up with his purpose for our lives, and we’re ready to grow.

How To Live A Life Of Gratitude

If thankfulness is so critically important, then how do we learn to practice it regularly? I can think of a few suggestions to begin with. First, start with prayer. Paul thanked God for his work in his own life and in the lives of the Thessalonian believers. Who can you thank God for right now? Second, keep a journal. If you’re like me, if I neglect to write things down, they don’t stay in my mind for very long. A journal helps me reflect upon God’s good works in my life and provides countless opportunities to express thankfulness. Third, be an encouragement to others. Express your thankfulness for others to them. Tell them how you see God at work in their lives. Be specific. And fourth, reflect on Scripture. Passages like these in 1 Thessalonians can serve as constant reminders of God’s faithfulness and our reasons to be thankful.

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. Growth is cultivated in the soil of trust, hope, and gratitude. Being thankful keeps us anchored close to God, and helps us to see things more in line with the way he sees them. If you want to grow deeper in your walk with Christ, begin with a thankful heart. Not only will you see God more clearly… you’ll become more like him.

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Many years ago, I was inspired to read some of the earliest of Christian writers, the early Church Fathers. I set out upon this quest, and purchased a couple of books, Confessions, by Augustine, being the one I wished to start with. As a young and green youth minister, it didn’t take me long to figure out this was hard, and I soon lost interest. Augustine was shelved, and I read more modern fare.

In 2022, I started work toward a Master of Arts through the newly formed graduate program at Ozark Christian College. As I worked through their Strategic Leadership concentration, Ozark was working to merge with Lincoln Seminary, and soon expanded their program from a single MA to multiple degrees, including a Master of Divinity. Since I was already in the habit of school again (after three decades), I pivoted into the MDiv program after completing the work for the Master of Arts.

This shift in focus required a few courses that I might not have originally pursued, including early church history and Christology. But now that they were needed, they were worked into my program schedule. Little did I know the impact these courses, and their professor, would have on my spiritual trajectory.

The first class was Christology. In that class we were required to read two books from early Church Fathers: On the Unity of Christ, by Cyril of Alexandria, and On the Cosmic Mystery of Christ, by Maximus the Confessor. And just like that, I was hooked.

These two books fanned the flame in my life that was sparked so many years ago with my attempt to read Augustine. I’m not sure whether I had found the right books to begin reading, or if I had grown enough in my spiritual formation to be at a point where I was ready for them. But I devoured these two books and added recommendations from my professor for more to both my wish list and my library.

The next course, covering the early history of Christianity, added more books, and more desire. I read Catechetical Discourse, by Gregory of Nyssa, and Origen’s On First Principles, practically before the class even began. And from there, I turned my attention back to Augustine, this time to his book Teaching Christianity.

These books became powerful influences in my life, stretching my mind and intellect, challenging my thinking, and growing my faith in ways that I have never experienced. As I had found years before, they were hard to read; sometimes I had to reread a paragraph more than a couple of times to parse out the meaning. But the effort was worth it in so many ways. Now, I am convinced more than ever that my initial impulse years ago was correct: the early Church Fathers are very much worth reading.

Reading such material is very beneficial for our spiritual growth because it provides so much value and insight into faith, theology, and practice. Here are five reasons why the early Church Fathers should be added to your reading.

For Doctrinal Clarity

The early Church Fathers were instrumental in defining and clarifying key doctrines, such as the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and the authority of Scripture. Their writings have helped believers understand core theological truths over the centuries, and have ensured that the faith was preserved and handed from generation to generation accurately.

In my reading of Cyril of Alexandria, I gained better insight into the dual nature of Jesus, as both fully human and fully divine. Often referred to as the hypostatic union, this doctrine clarifies both natures of Jesus, showing that he is not two separate beings, nor is he two natures blended into one, but he is both fully human and fully God existing in the one person Jesus Christ.

For Defending the Faith (Apologetics)

Additionally, doctrinal clarity helped to defend Christianity against false teachings and heresy. This helped build a solid foundation for a stronger faith and a defined orthodoxy. As the early church attempted to understand Jesus more completely, several wrong ideas emerged. One example is concerning the dual natures of Christ. The early heresy of Arianism denied Christ’s divinity. Another early heresy, Nestorianism, divided Christ’s natures improperly. Cyril of Alexandria and Irenaeus, among others, were key defenders against such wrong beliefs, and helped Christians for centuries understand correctly, defending Christianity from these and other theological errors.

To Better Biblical Interpretation and Exegesis

The early Church Fathers wrote expansively on Scripture, providing deep commentaries on passage after passage. John Chrysostom wrote multiple books and commentaries, hundreds of homilies or sermons, and a vast array of letters. In these, he expands on passages from both the Old and New Testaments, digging into the meaning of Scripture, and helping generations of Christians understand these texts and apply them to their lives.

Such writings not only explain what Scripture says, but also help to define why we believe what we believe. Augustine’s works, such as Confessions and The City of God, are excellent examples. As we engage with these works and others, believers can grow in confidence in their faith, knowing that Christianity is both intellectually sound and biblically grounded. Origen’s On First Principles is an excellent resource because it is essentially an early systematic theology. Origen systematically works through the core doctrines of Christianity, beginning with what can be known about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. From there, he turns to topics such as creation, angels, free will, and more. Reading the early Church Fathers in this way helps to strengthen our faith tremendously.

As a Model of Holiness and Devotion

Many of the early Church Fathers lived lives of deep prayer and devotion, of self-discipline, and of commitment to Christ. Their lives serve as powerful examples of holiness. And their writings on prayer, or fasting, or other disciplines can inspire believers to grow in these areas in their own lives as well.

As an example, my professor shared with us how he had discovered the early Church Fathers. He wanted to become better at prayer, and to be able to focus more with less distraction. As he searched for those who had gone before who might be able to help him, he discovered the works of John Cassian. This fourth-century monk wrote extensively about monasticism and how to live a life fully focused on God. And if you struggle with staying focused in prayer, his works might be a good place to begin.

For Staying Rooted in Historical Christianity

The early Church Fathers show us how Christianity was lived and taught in the first few centuries after Christ and the Apostolic age. They help us understand Scripture correctly, and have passed that down from generation to generation, helping Christians navigate challenges in their own day with wisdom from the past. Their work in clarifying and defining doctrine played a key role in shaping Christianity and Christian unity throughout the centuries to follow. Studying their works can help us appreciate the historical foundations of our faith. It is upon their shoulders that we stand as we continue to dig into the Scriptures in order to gain a deeper and more complete understanding of Jesus, of who he is, and how we can be more conformed to his image (Romans 8:29).

The early Church Fathers are invaluable for those who wish to grow in their faith, those who seek to deepen their understanding of doctrine and theology, and engage with Scripture in a deeper fashion. Reading their works deepens our faith, and helps us to navigate the challenges we face today with time-tested wisdom of the past. Their work is a powerful boost to our spiritual formation. Unfortunately, many of us never tap into this treasury of spiritual resources, for whatever reasons.

Don’t be afraid to dig into these books. Will they be hard? Yes. They will challenge you. But they are not unreachable in some ivory tower, beyond our comprehension. It’s worth taking the time to dig into one of these works, and you might just find a new excitement and passion for your spiritual growth and formation that you never knew was right there, waiting for you to explore.

Resources and Works Mentioned here (Amazon Affiliate Links)

• Confessions, Augustine
• On the Unity of Christ, Cyril of Alexandria
• On the Cosmic Mystery of Christ, Maximus the Confessor
• Catechetical Discourse, Gregory of Nyssa
• On First Principles, Origen
• Teaching Christianity, Augustine
• The City of God, Augustine
• Sermons, John Chrysostom
• The Institutes, John Cassian
• On God and Christ, Gregory of Nazianzus
• The Life of Antony, Athanasius
• The Book of Pastoral Rule, Gregory the Great

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In a world that is inundated with the clanging noise of daily life, it can be easy to overlook the most important aspect of our being: our spirit. In the midst of the chaos, investing in our spiritual formation and well-being often takes a backseat. However, just as we invest in wisdom and in our physical health, nurturing our spirit is equally important.

The concept of spiritual disciplines is core to Christianity, and has been since the beginning. We must create and maintain practices and habits that cultivate our relationship with God, and help us to become more and more like Christ. Digging through the pages of the Bible, we can find several such practices, and three are worth mentioning specifically.

However, our spiritual formation is of such critical importance that I find it necessary to identify and inspect many more disciplines and practices. For some time, I have been working through many of these disciplines in a series of posts entitled “Establishing Spiritual Disciplines.” Many of these are found in Scripture, and several more come from the rich traditions to be found studying the history of Christianity. All of these can be assets in our desire for spiritual formation.

Prayer

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul prioritizes prayer, and informs us that God wants to hear from us. In fact, cultivating the habit of prayer leads to peace, even in the midst of chaotic life circumstances and the craziness that takes place on a daily basis.

Meditation

Psalm 1:2-3 provides an excellent illustration of the benefits of meditating on God’s Word: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” To engage in the practice of meditating on God’s truths found in Scripture is like a tree that is planted near a steady supply of life-giving water. A tree like that flourishes. When we maintain a steady flow of God’s Word in our minds and thoughts, we too will flourish spiritually.

As a child, my mother found some wall plaque with my name on it. Under it was this passage, reminding me to be like that tree, seeking the continuous inflow of God’s truth into my life. I still have that plaque, and it still reminds me to meditate.

Fasting

This is a discipline that many neglect, and in doing so, they miss out on a rich and meaningful spiritual experience. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus teaches, “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” What Jesus is saying here is that fasting is an opportunity to set aside the immediate pleasures of life, such as food, and deliberately seek a deeper spiritual nourishment that comes from a deeper connection with God. Fasting opens the door to a richer relationship that helps us grow spiritually.

There are more… Many more. Some can be found in the pages of Scripture, while others are simple habits that we can incorporate to help us make the most of these disciplines. One such habit that can help you make the most of all three of these spiritual practices is the habit of journaling. When you build this habit into your life and spiritual routine, you can document your prayers and reflections, helping you see the growth taking place in your life and see the answers to your prayers as God moves. You can list reasons to be thankful for what God is doing. You can jot down reminders of things that God points out to you in his Word. And you can keep track of insights that may come while focusing on God instead of merely physical things, through fasting. Writing these things offers a tangible way to process emotions, track your spiritual growth, and cultivate a sense of mindfulness.

Investing in our spiritual health through spiritual disciplines such as these is a necessity as we seek to navigate life with wisdom and endurance, and with wisdom and faith. Such practices can be transformational as Jesus uses them to conform us more and more into someone who looks like him in every facet of our being.

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By nature, I am an introvert. Some may find that hard to believe, but it’s true. I am most inclined to withdraw into myself and avoid connections. It is only through years of practice that I have learned how to engage with others in meaningful and beneficial ways. I have learned to express myself as an extrovert, but even so, there are times when I much prefer the company of a book over anything — or anyone — else.

I often wrestle with myself because of my nature. If God designed us to be in community, why do I have the personality that would prefer solitude over crowds? If it is not good to be alone, and we need one another, why do I withdraw into myself as a protective instinct in order to prevent the pain that comes with relationships and interactions with people? How do I reconcile these warring sides of my own self?

Because of my nature, I have had a hard time really opening myself up to others fully. It seems that when I do, it frequently leads to feelings of betrayal, rejection, frustration, and pain. The knee-jerk reaction is to simply say, “No. I just won’t open myself up to others.” But that’s not the way. That’s not how we are called to live as Christians.

We are called and created to be in community with one another. We are called to invest in one another, and journey with one another as we discover who God wants us to be, and as we journey toward that goal. Simply put, community exists when we connect with others in an authentic way, in order to love, serve, encourage, and support one another as we grow in Christ. This requires that I set aside my introverted nature and become open and transparent with others as I seek to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

Will this result in pain? Probably, because we are broken and fallen individuals, and we won’t get it right always. But those times we do get it right are worth the effort. It helps us understand who we really are, both as individuals and as the body of Christ, together.

Community fosters some very tangible benefits within the life of the church. I can think of several, but three really stand out to me at this point in my own life.

Community helps us understand identity

I can only fully understand who I am in relation to those around me. The body of Christ is often described as a family (1 Timothy 3:14-15; Ephesians 2:19), and family is the first and most foundational aspect of community. We exist most fully when we find and form right relationships with others. We are not designed to be alone. This is seen clearly in the concept of the Trinity. God exists in community, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Since we are created “in his image” (Genesis 1:26), then that means that we, too, are designed to be in community.

Community helps us grow in our faith and spiritual maturity

When we look at the early church in the Book of Acts, we see a community that is growing together as they seek out ways to keep company with Jesus, and live that out in front of others. God’s plan for the church is that it be a place where broken people can find restoration and wholeness, and then offer that to others. Need evidence of this? Take a look at a list of passages that contain the phrase “one another.” Out of over one hundred instances of this phrase in the New Testament, notice how many instruct us to be in community, and how we should act in community.

Community gives us a place to serve

When we are in community with one another, we have an opportunity to put the needs of others ahead of our own (Philippians 2:3-4). Community is a place where we can put to use the gifts that God has given us. Community is a place where we can seek out the best for another person. And that just might begin by being people who give and receive forgiveness and offer restoration to one another. That can form the foundation for so much more to take place, and God’s presence can be clearly seen in such actions. We will never reach perfection in this life, but even in our imperfection, we can be committed to a God who is perfect, and he’ll do what we cannot.

This theme of community is something that God has been weaving into my life consistently over the past few months. He has brought people into my life who challenge this aspect of spiritual formation, and who push me to grow more Christlike. Sometimes, I don’t really like it, because it comes with difficulty for me, but I know it’s what I need, and so I seek to be open in those relationships.

He has placed books in my path that point to the need for community. In fact, right now, I am reading two different books, each reinforcing the need for community in my life: The Good and Beautiful Community, by James Bryan Smith, is an excellent reminder of our need for one another. And Adorning the Dark, by Andrew Peterson, has opened my mind to some different perspectives on community, things I have never stopped to consider. Both are definitely worth reading.

Mostly, though, I return over and over to Paul’s letters, especially his letters to the Philippian, the Colossian, and the Ephesian churches. These short letters remind me of my “one another-ness.” They remind me that I am not designed to withdraw into myself and remain there. Solitude is good for me, but it is not a place where I can live all the time.

And so I seek community. I seek to live a life engaged with others, even if that comes with some discomfort from time to time.

The end result is worth it.

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Last year, I identified four areas in which we should invest in our lives, especially as leaders. The first area I identified was wisdom, which is the ability to gain knowledge, and then put it into practice. The second area where we should make an investment is into our health.

I have to admit, this is not an area of life where I excel. I often have good intentions, and sometimes, I follow through with them. Most of the time, I don’t. This is an area where I must become more focused and intentional.

Why? Because our physical health has an impact on every other area of life, and when we make our physical health a priority, the effect is almost immediate. Our minds sharpen, our strength grows, our emotions stabilize, our relationships gain strength, and our spiritual life is impacted as well. Taking the time to address this quadrant of life has a tremendous ripple effect into every other area. And frankly, that amazes me every time I stop to consider it.

But the opposite is true, too. When I either neglect my physical side, or when I work it too hard, all of those other areas suffer as well. Taking the time to invest in our health has to be a top priority.

There are at least three focus areas for the physical side of life.

Eat Well

First of all, we need to check what we put into our bodies. Our culture seems to push unwholesome foods at us that are highly processed, or filled with sugars, preservatives, or other unwholesome ingredients. Addressing this isn’t difficult. It can be as simple as shopping around the edges of the grocery store and avoiding the stuff in the aisles for the most part. In other words, fresh produce, or other foods that are closest to their original state tend to be healthiest. Will this be a little more expensive? Probably. But the impact on our bodies will be worth it.

Several years ago, one of my doctors recommended I eliminate all wheat and dairy from my diet. After some careful thought and prayer, we decided to give that a shot. The results were immediate and very significant. I lost more than 65 pounds, my blood pressure stabilized to levels low enough I could stop taking medication for it, my sleep apnea disappeared and I was able to stop using a CPAP machine. My moods changed, my energy levels increased, and much, much more.

I’m not suggesting you try that. Talk to your doctor before you do. Or do your research. But you’ll be surprised at what changes will take place when you eat healthy.

Move Around

Next, exercise is an important addition. A few years ago, I joined a gym. I use it occasionally. I must become better at using it frequently. Consistent and regular exercise has an impact on multiple areas of our lives, just as eating well does. You don’t have to become a bodybuilder and become the biggest guy flexing in the mirror at the gym. But getting your heart rate up and doing so consistently will have a pretty big impact.

You could go to the gym. Or you could go for a walk. Or you could join an exercise class, or buy a bike, or any number of things. Investing in your health means investing in your physical body.

Stress Less

Again, this is an area where I consistently have to remind myself to take a step back and take a deep breath. Life is not as complicated as I tend to make it, and I suspect you are the same. When I refuse to allow stressful things to impact me, I’m much more pleasant to be around, and it also has a chain reaction into other areas of my physical and mental health… as well as my spiritual health.

What can we do instead? Take a walk. Go watch the birds for a few moments. Turn to a familiar and favorite Bible passage to reset your mind. Pray.

Investing in our physical health can have an incredible impact on every other area of our lives. But I suspect that there are many like me who have ignored this investment for too long. It’s time to take better control of this aspect of life and invest in our health.

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Worry is something I have long struggled with. I’m a worrier, although I may call it “concern” or “attention” or “caution” or something similar. Whatever I might name it, it needs to be addressed in my life, and Jesus gives us some direct and pointed insights on the topic.

In this passage in Matthew 6, Jesus gives us some direct instructions about worry. There are so many things that take place in our lives that are beyond our control, and worrying about them won’t change a thing. I worry about my wife driving late at night. I worry about my older kids as they travel, as they build and form relationships, and as they seek to live as functional adults.

I worry about my younger kids as they grow into who God has called them to be. I worry about their friends, about how much time they may spend online or playing video games. I worry about their safety and health.

I worry about my job, in my role as a minister. I worry about those I cannot please, no matter what I do. I worry about those who are close to me, and my own influence upon them.

I worry. … A lot.

But Jesus says, “For this reason… do not be worried about your life” (Matthew 6:25). Do not worry. Do not be anxious. Do not dwell on this stuff. The word that Jesus uses here in Greek means “to have the mind distracted.” After all, that’s what worrying is. It’s distraction. It’s focusing on those things that we cannot change instead of what we should be focused on: the one who does have the ability to change things.

Of course, Jesus does not forbid common sense and prudent forethought. You might think of this in the same way we think about stewardship. Jesus doesn’t condemn money; he just asks us to view it the right way, and with the right motives. Our concerns and worries are the same. If we approach this with a “mind stewardship,” we may have a better grasp on how to avoid worry, and focus on Jesus instead.

Jesus tells us that God cares for the birds (verse 26) and the lilies (verses 28-29). Later, Paul tells us that God will “supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19). God knows we need food, clothes, and shelter. The one who seeks God’s Kingdom first will have his needs met, too (Psalm 37:25).

That’s all great stuff, but it still leaves the question lingering in my mind, “How do I do this? How do I set worry aside and leave it be?”

One of the best books I’ve ever read that addresses this topic is The Good And Beautiful Life, by James Bryan Smith. In this book, Smith walks through the Sermon on the Mount section by section, and his chapter on worry carried a one-two punch to my soul. He hit me right where I live.

Smith defines worry as, “a disproportionate level of concern based on an inappropriate measure of fear.” Read that again. In other words, it’s alright to be concerned or cautious, but when we move past that into the realm of worry, we are in the grip of fear of the things we cannot control.

What Jesus is asking here in this passage of Matthew is that we let go of the one thing that we feel like we can control. He’s asking us to trust that he knows what we need better than we do ourselves.

Smith puts this into perfect perspective for me later in his chapter. It’s worth quoting in full:

“Worry keeps me focused on my own limited resources. Trust keeps my attention on God’s abundant resources. This is why worry cannot exist in the kingdom of God. Worry happens when I am on the throne of my life, when I live in the kingdom of me. But we trust when God is on the throne of our lives and we live in his kingdom. That is why the solution to worrying is to seek first the kingdom.”

See what I mean? A one-two punch to the soul. As long as I am in the grip of worry, I can’t seek the kingdom. And the reverse of that is true as well. If I’m seeking the kingdom, then worry cannot have any claim on my mind and my thoughts.

And the promise here? When I allow God to be the one in control, instead of trying to wrestle that away from him, “all these things will be added to you.” He will take care of the details that would otherwise occupy my mind. It seems to me that living like this is a much better way than my own. And it seems like it will lead to more joy and confidence and trust and peace.

And that’s what I long for when I worry in the first place.

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Over the years, I have written several times about the need to develop spiritual disciplines and habits that help with spiritual formation. This is one of the key areas of my own life, and it forms the foundation for spiritual growth.

Developing spiritual practices that transform us is a critically important part of our spiritual growth. Such disciplines, or habits, help us maintain our growth as a priority, and can be a helpful tool for gaining deeper growth and maturity. I have several core disciplines that I have built into my daily routines, or at other frequent intervals. Many of those I have written about in the past here. They have been good companions, old friends even, that have helped me keep my focus on Jesus as I seek to become more and more like him.

For most of my life, I assumed that there were only a few of these disciplines, maybe a couple of dozen, at best. However, I have recently discovered that there are far more such habits that can help me grow than I ever imagined. As I have discovered some new ways of incorporating growth into my life, I have stretched myself by trying some of these new disciplines. Some of them have helped me tremendously; others have not been as beneficial for my life, at the point I am at right now. But who knows? They may be more helpful at a later point in my spiritual journey.

A few years ago, I wrote several articles about some of the core disciplines I was investing in at the time. That series of posts, called Establishing Spiritual Disciplines, is still a list of those core habits I turn to on a consistent basis. Some of those habits include Bible reading, fasting, prayer, and solitude, just to name a few. What I hope to do is reinvigorate that old series of posts, revisiting many of those base habits, and adding more to the list… because there are far more than just these few. I have discovered several new disciples that have helped me to grow, and I want to share them with you.

As I write about these habits, there are a few things that I expect to happen. First, some of those old posts will be updated and shared again. Bear with me if you’ve read them before. As I seek to grow more and more, these foundational patterns are worth revisiting and exploring anew. Others will be examined in a fresh light, and I’ll seek out different approaches in examining them. And still others will be added to my list as I share new ways that I never even realized were possibilities earlier in my life.

I’m excited about the journey I’m on as I grow to become more and more like Jesus, and finding new tools that help me with that growth is invigorating to my spiritual health. I hope you’ll be challenged and encouraged in your own spiritual life and health as well.

See you on the journey!

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Growing my faith, my relationship with God, is my top priority. Above all else, my relationship with Christ must come first. Everything else in my life hinges upon this. But in order to do that, you have to develop a series of disciplines that will help you grow and mature in your faith.

As a minister, all too often, I have conversations that center around how to grow and mature in our faith. I have discovered that most people have no idea what to do to deepen their faith. Most of the people I have these conversations with want to deepen their faith, they just aren’t sure how to go about doing that.

As a result, I’ve decided to write a series of posts about spiritual disciplines. These are habits that I believe are necessary to grow in our faith. These are habits that are either prominent in Scripture, or have been proven through the lives of other, spiritually mature believers.

Not everyone grows in the same fashion or speed. What might be a breeze to one person may be a difficult discipline to master for another. But I firmly believe that each of these disciplines play a part in our becoming who God has created us to be.

Over the course of the next few weeks and months, I will be writing a series of posts about these disciplines. Each post (or posts, maybe) will define each discipline, and give some practical ideas on how to implement this effectively in our lives.

By nature, these will be fairly brief overviews. Books could be, and have been written on each of these topics. My intent is not to recreate a lot of that material, but to give some resources that can be used to help deepen your faith, as these disciplines have deepened mine.

The inner life is something that too many of us neglect. We purchase gym memberships for the physical body. We educate ourselves, sometimes through graduate and post-graduate levels, for the mental portion of our lives. But when it comes to the spiritual aspect of our reality, we find it sufficient to attend church each Sunday, maybe even on Wednesdays, and we get our spiritual fill-up at those times.

That simply is not enough.

If we are to grow in our faith, we must be as intentional about it as we are with our other goals, physical, mental, relational, or otherwise. The inner being, though neglected, is perhaps the most important part of who we are. After all, we are created as spiritual beings. Our bodies will grow old and die. Our minds will grow feeble and forgetful. But the spiritual part of us is eternal.

So why do we ignore it?

I believe that if we strive to make these disciplines a reality in our lives, we will see significant spiritual growth.

These are not cut and dried, formulaic patterns, where if you do this, you’ll get that. But just like anything else in our lives, when we focus and practice something intentionally and repeatedly, it will become stronger, we will become better at it. In short, we will grow.

As a youth minister, I always used the illustration of tennis. I don’t know why. I don’t play tennis. I don’t watch tennis. I have no desire to do either. But if I wanted to become a great tennis player, I would need to learn the principles of the game. And I would need to practice. I would have to continue to do these things, and in time, I would become competent, become more adept, and eventually master the game. Perhaps I would never win a championship, but I would have a skill in the game that others do not, because I applied myself to learning and growing.

The same is true with our spiritual disciplines. The more we apply them in to our lives, the more we practice them, the stronger our skills will become, and the deeper our faith will grow.

Over the years, I’ve read several books on this topic, and I’ve identified a list of several disciplines that I think we should consider. Some of my thoughts have been shaped by two books in particular: Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald, and Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster. Each of these have played a valuable role in teaching me to develop spiritual disciplines. Much of what I will share have been developed in my life because of these two books, which I read years ago.

But my growth in this didn’t stop after I read these books. Instead, I took the disciplines I was introduced to by these books, and implemented them, tweaking them to fit my life, growing in them to become stronger in my faith because of them.

Those are the things I want to share with you in this series.

Here is a partial list of the topics I plan to cover. As this series progresses, I will probably add to this list. And I will return here and add links as each post is written. This page will serve as a landing page of sorts for the entire series.

• Reading The Bible
  • The Importance Of Reading The Bible
  • Establishing The Discipline Of Reading The Bible
• Praying
  • The Purpose Of Prayer
  • Rejuvenating Your Prayer Life
• Fasting
• Solitude
  • The Need For Solitude
  • Cultivating Solitude
• Community
• Bible Study (More than just reading)
• Developing Healthy Priorities
• Meditation
• Simplicity
• Serving Others
• Worship
• Submission
• Fellowship
• Confession
• Celebration
• Developing A Life Plan
• Personal Retreat Days
• Reading Good Books
• Guidance
• Mentoring Others

I realize this is a lot of disciplines to take in. But I have learned that each of these, to one degree or another, is essential in my life for me to become the person God has created me to be. And I’m fairly certain that I will add a few others to this list as it goes on.

I’ve found each of these to be very beneficial in my life. I hope that you will find them helpful as well.

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