six spiritual practices to change your life

7/28/2019 Six Spiritual Practices to Change Your Life

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Six Spiritual Practices to Change Your Life

Want to grow in your walk with God? These biblical disciplines can make a difference in the way you livefrom the inside-out

By the In Touch StaffIllustrations by Jeff Gregory

"Discipline is often thought of in negative terms. But for the Christian, it brings life. We need toolsspiritualpracticesto help us grow in Christlikeness, day by day. Heres a list of six essentials. Try them. Youll find yourrelationship with God closer to what youve always longed for it to be.

Regular ConfessionConfess your sins one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed. James 5:16Sin takes its toll on usspiritually, emotionally, and even physically. Confession is the first step on the road tohealing. In becoming believers, we confess that we are sinners in need of the Savior. After that, we must becomeconfessorsthose who dont let sin fester but constantly call it out into the open so it can be dealt with. Not only canwe be healed of our destructive path, but through this practice we become people who live with transparency,humility, and honesty. In this, we give testimony to the power of the Great Healer, Jesus Christ.

Common Misconceptions

Its possible to lose my salvation because I have failed to confess all my sins. Confessing to others is necessary for forgiveness. If Im sick, it must be because I have unconfessed sinned in my life. Telling trusted friends about my sin will make them think less of me.

Purpose of the Discipline

To keep sin from taking root in your life. To live with honesty, integrity, humility and clear conscience before God and man. To reveal your faith through actions.

Put It into Practice

Be quick to admit to the Lord when youre wrong. Find a friend of the same gender who will listen to you without judgment, pray for you, hold you accountable, and

provide wise counsel.

Confess directly to the Lord, but realize that there is a special blessing that comes from revealing your sins,confidentially, to a trusted fellow believer and confessing to Christ in his or her presence.
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Spiritual FriendshipIt is not good forthe man to be alone. Genesis 2:18When it comes to relating to other believers, God has goals that can be achieved only if were willing to interact withone another on a deeper level. The reproof inHebrews 5:12about Christians who should be ready for solid food butstill need the milk of elementary principlesalso has application for relationships.The Lord sees high purposes in our one anothering, which include edifying, admonishing, praying for, andencouraging the family of faith, while stimulating them to love and good deeds (Romans 14:19; 15:14; James 5:16; 1Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24). In other words, to help fellow believers reach their God-ordained potential, we

should be pointing them to Christ and allowing them to do the same for us. But that simply cannot happen unlessJesus is an intentional and integral part of the time we spend with our spiritual brothers and sisters.


I can keep myself on the right path, without help from anyone else. I dont need to go to church; reading the Bible and praying are sufficient. Seeing other believers at church on Sundays is adequate Christian interaction. Im strong enough to handle a partnership with an unbeliever.


To love one another (John 13:34) To share resources and serve one another (Acts 4:32; Galatians 5:13) To create unity and make peace (1 Cor. 12:25; 1 Thess. 5:13)

To bear one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2) To enhance worship (Ephesians 5:19) To perfect humility in ourselves (Philippians 2:3) To help others avoid being hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13)


Purposefully seek out Christian friends; church activities and ministries are a good place to start. Look for godliness when choosing close companions (Proverbs. 13:20). Get involved in an area of service that fits your spiritual gifts and skill set, and relationships are likely to develop. Cultivate those traits that build strong friendshipslike loyalty, honesty, and dependability. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you give you the desires of your heart, including satisfying, godly

relationships (Psalm 37:4).
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Restitution for WrongsZaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I havedefrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much. Luke 19:8Restitution is a creative spiritual discipline and is meant for our healing. When you demonstrate repentance by takingaction to make amends with someone you have wronged, God is able to work greater healing in your heart and in thebroken relationship. Restitution is also an act based on both obedience and desire.

Notice that Jesus didnt outright command the newly converted tax collector to pay back those hed cheated. Zaccheus

was so inspired by Christs love, righteousness, and unconditional acceptance of him that he was actually excitedabout publicly amending his past wrongs. His motivation was a direct result of having accepted the restoration Jesusfreely offered him.


Restitution requires me to do something to pay for my wrongdoing. When I make restitution, it makes me more worthy of being forgiven. Restitution includes wallowing in shame. Restitution ensures that the person I wronged will forgive me.


To tangibly express your heart attitude of repentance. To demonstrate your desire for restored relationship. To build trust that has been lost. To meet someone elses need in a practical way. To make you more mindful of the impact of your actionsand your commitment to living differently.


Pray about any instances in which you hurt someone else that weigh on your heartor that you may have left open-ended.

If youve fully repented and accepted forgiveness from the Lord, recognize that because of His sacrifice for your sin,you are no longer in debt to Him.

Ask God to reveal to you any action He wants you to take. Do you owe a material debt to anyone that you need tosettle? Do you need to make a phone call or write a sincere letter of apology? Often, asking the individual if there's

anything you can do to demonstrate your repentance is a great place to start.

Perhaps its not possible to make restitution with the individual you wronged. Ask God to show you an opportunity tobless someone else in a relevant way. (Example: InEphesians 4:28, Paul said that those who used to steal should do

meaningful work with their hands so they can be generous to those in need.)
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Spirit-Directed ReadingBut when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth . . . John 16:13When it comes to Scripture, not all reading is created equal. And while theres much we can gain from simply enjoyingand learning from the Bibles stories and wisdom on an intellectual level, all of this is amplified when we aredisciplined to pray first and then continue praying throughout our reading.

Asking the Holy Spirit to guide us as we pore over each sentence, paragraph, and page is the best way to experiencethe powerful truth ofHebrews 4:12that Scripture is alive. Just as Jesus met His disciples on the road to Emmaus andopened their minds to the scriptures, so also He will give us understanding through the Spirit. And like those two

disciples, well often think to ourselves after reading, Did not our hearts burn within us? (Luke 24:32).


The Scriptures were written for a specific time, place, and people. They werent meant to speak personally to me or mysituation.

The more I read in one sitting, the better. Detailed study is the only way to be really blessed by the Bible.


To understand the truth about Gods nature, plan, and purpose for humanity. To hear from God personally, as He illuminates certain points relevant to your life and circumstances. To experience Scripture prayerfully, realizing that the depth of your learning is more important than the breadth of

your reading.


Before reading, say a prayer similar to King Davids: Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things in Your law(Ps. 119:18).

Read at a speed that allows you to remain attentive, present to the text, and ready to engage with any points thatespecially stand out.

Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify any questions and confirm your observations.
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Conversational PrayerCall to me and I will answer you and tell you great and hidden things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3At its most fundamental level, prayer is communion with God. But we often miss this truth and relegate the practiceto a time of making personal requests and sharing our worries. Theres nothing wrong with asking the Lord to meetour needs or give us peace, but when our prayer life fails to rise beyond this level, we miss out on the full experienceGod wants us to have in relationship to Him. Above all, praying is about cultivating friendship with Him. And like anyother relationship, the quality of our fellowship depends on rich dialogue. We often expect God to let us speak freelyto Him but rarely give Him the chance to speak back to us, and on His terms. To be people of prayer, we need to

balance talking with humble listening.Common Misconceptions

God does not want to converse with meIm too sinful and insignificant in His eyes. Im too easily distracted and wont ever develop the ability to listen in prayer. I need to speak in a particular way and in a certain posture, in order for prayer to be effective.


To grow closer to God, know Him better, and become increasingly like Him. To receive the Lords counsel about daily life and the future. To cultivate a heart for things that God cares about.


Find a quiet place to meet with Godone where youll feel comfortable speaking out loud to Him. Doing so maysteady your focus while you pour your heart out to Him. It will also make the contrast between speaking and listening

more evident.

If youre not sure what to say, start by reminding yourself that He cares and telling Him about the most importantthing weighing on your mind.

After doing so, rest in silence, giving God ample and unrushed time to calm your spirit and inspire your thoughts withHis own.
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Sacrificial WorshipAscribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory dueto His name; worship the Lord in holy array.Psalm 29:1-2Contemplate the scope of the universethe planets moving in perfect alignment and the splendor of stars andnebulae. David pondered such vastness and responded, When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers . . .what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? (Ps. 8:3-4). Because God lovesHis children so deeply, He directs each believers life, turning everything for good. As His cherished creations, we areworth more than untold universes, and lifetimes of worship could never be enough to express the gratitude He is due.But whats more, worship is the offering of our selves to Godour life in exchange for His. We give ourselves as living

sacrifices to the Lord, demonstrating our devotion to Him not just with our resources but also with our very selves, ingood times and bad.


Music is the only way I can worship God. Worship is something that can happen only when Im in a church building or while attending services held there. Its something I do when all is right in my lifewhen I feel happy, inspired, and fulfilled.


To demonstrate your devotion to God by giving Him all you are and have. To humble yourself before the Creator, acknowledging His rightful place in your life and in the world around you. To be unified with other believers, particularly in your local congregation.

Put It into Practice We are called to worship in spirit and truth (John 4:34). Ask God to help you connect with Him in authentic ways,

with sincere adorationnot out of obligation but with a willing heart.

Worship with other believers whenever possible through prayer, singing, or acts of service. Consider that everything you do, from washing the dishes or gardening to work- ing on the job, can be an occasion for

worshipeven if only in the deep recesses of your heart.

Copyright 2012 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved.www.intouch.org. In Touch grants permission to print for personal use only.
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six spiritual practices to change your life

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