God’s Word says to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim. 4:7). It’s the same word used for exercising to become physically fit. 2 Timothy 2:3-6 refers to soldiers who undergo vigorous discipline so they’re fit to win the battle, athletes who train to win a prize, and farmers who endure hardship for a crop. The end result of such discipline makes it worth it for them. Do we find spiritual disciplines’ purpose worthwhile?
Before answering that question, we should first have answers to these:
Identifying a Spiritual Discipline’s Purpose That Truly Motivates
To consistently 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. For example, to consistently and persistently spend time in the Word and prayer, we need motivation beyond reasoning that it’s something Christians do. It needs to go beyond what a pastor or Bible teacher instructs us to do. Guilt and coercion may work for a while but usually don’t keep us going.
The Apostle Paul identified a spiritual disciplines purpose that truly motivated him. He 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 our Lord? If so, the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ” should make you want to engage in spiritual disciplines, even when it involves sacrifice. The more intimately acquainted you become with Him, the more spiritual disciplines purpose will seem worthwhile.
For more, check out the Getting Spiritually Fit Discipleship Tool which will help you further reflect on motivation for engaging in spiritual disciplines.