To engage in that which could cause us some inconvenience or discomfort, we need a pretty good reason to do so. We humans don’t like to give up our personal agendas and interests for something we don’t perceive as worth the time and effort.
Soldiers undergo vigorous discipline so they are fit to win the battle. Athletes train themselves to win a prize. Farmers endure hardship for a crop. See 2 Timothy 2:3-6.
For us to be motivated to regularly and persistently spend time in the Word and prayer, for example, we need to sense the value. So, why engage in spiritual disciplines?
A Motivation that Should Make Us Want to Engage in Spiritual Disciplines
The Apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ …” (Phil. 3:8-11).
Is your heart’s desire to more fully know and love this God?
The Getting Spiritually Fit Discipleship Tool will help you further reflect on what will and will not tend to motivate you to engage in spiritual disciplines.