The Bible reminds us that every good thing comes from heaven above (James 1:17) and the spiritual practice for this week involves recalling to your mind and heart the particular good things you have experienced throughout your day. This practice helps you to see God’s grace in your life even during the tough times and when practiced over time, fosters a growing trust and love of God.
- Each morning, verbally declare as you awake: This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
- At the end of each day, write down 3 things from your day for which you are thankful and then give God thanks for his gracious gifts. (If you have a family or roommates this is a great practice to do together. If there are children or grandchildren, do this around the dinner table).
- Sometime during the week, watch this video. What part of this letter (verse or verses) were you drawn to? What feelings surface with you? Are they worthy of celebration?
A Word about Spirit Disciplines (or Practices)
A spiritual discipline is any activity (Groove) entered into with the intention of presenting and opening ourselves up to God (1 Cor 10:31).
Important to remember:
- We cannot achieve spiritual growth through sheer grit and will power.
- Spiritual growth is essentially a work of divine grace with which we are called to
cooperate. - Opening ourselves up to the work of the Spirit requires discipline and effort.
- The spiritual practices are not as an end, nor a means of self-improvement, or a
way of earning God’s approval but a vehicle God uses to surface the deeper issues
in our hearts.