8 Spiritual disciplines that will help you live a victorious Christian life
Spiritual disciplines are exercise that will enable anyone who intend to have a genuine walk with God to live a victorious Christian life.
1. WORSHIP
One of the purpose we are created is to worship God. Every breaking of the day poses us to worship God. We were designed to worship God. We were fashioned to worship God. We were made to worship God. Every thing about humanity and the human race is first to worship God. The call to worship is found in God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. It is our responsibility to reverence God Almighty at all times.
Worshiping our Lord is our response to how great He is and the priviledge He displayed in creating man in His image after His likeness that we can exercise full dominion on earth and everything that is within it. Worship should be a daily practice to everyone who has a genuine walk with God. It is worship that ushers us into the presence of God Almighty. The first act to approaching God is the act of worship.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalms chapter 100 verses 4)
“Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.” (Psalms chapter 99 verses 5)
“Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; (Hebrews chapter 12 verses 28 AMP)
“And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke chapter 4 verses 8)
“Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. (Isaiah chapter 12 verses 5 NLT)
1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans chapter 12 verses 1 to 2)
2. PRAYER
Prayer is an act of communication with our heavenly Father. In a family, every child when he or she wakes up in the morning, he or she will be eager to see and chat with the parents. Every child will wants to have some moment with the father. So it is designed that every believer should be eager to have a specific time allocated for a communication with the Father. Yes, just like our earthly father love communicating with his kids, so it delights our heavenly Father to hear us speak to Him.
This is quite necessary because we need to know what is the Will of our heavenly Father. If we fail in the place of prayer it will rob us of so many benefits that is ours. Daily communication with our heavenly Father should be a priority. When we pray, we bring our needs and the needs of others before Him with the assurance He is capable to handle them all. Jesus in all His ministry here on earth has proved the need of prayer to successful Christian living.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1Thessalonian chapter 5 verses 17)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians chapter 4 verses 6)
“Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James chapter 5 verses 16 AMP)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians chapter 6 verses 18)
3. STUDY
God’s Word is our blueprint for life. Every thing in life was made possible by God’s spoken Words. It is in studying the Word of God that we get to know the mind of God concerning us and the situation surrounding us. We can only know what God has promised and proposed to humanity even before the foundation of the earth when we study God’s Words. There are many promises of God towards us that we need to be acquitted with as we study God’s Word.
It is impossible to obey God’s Word if we don’t know it. Getting into God’s Word is the first step of His Word getting into us! When we study God’s Word, we will know more about God and what He is capable of doing. God has so much in store for us and we will get to know that by studying the Word of God. You can’t afford to live a successful Christian life if you don’t have knowledge of God’s Word. God’s Word is a powerful tool to navigate through life.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John chapter 1 verses 1)
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Roman chapter 10 verses 17)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts chapter 17 verses 11)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2Timothy chapter 3 verses 16)
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1Peter chapter 3 verses 15)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Timothy chapter 2 verses 15)
4. FELLOWSHIP
One of the reasons we are fashioned, designed and made in God’s image after His likeness is to have a cordial relationship and fellowship with Him. What a joy that man and his God fellowership together. That is also extended when we value the fellowship of the brethren. God promised that whenever believers gathered together, He will always be in there midst. When we gather to have fellowership, God’s presence envelopes us.
How God Almighty loves the fellowship of the believers. You can’t have and experience a successful Christian life if you do not value the gathering with other believers. I have come in contact with people who will say that they don’t fellowership with others, that church is in the heart. What a deception statement from the pit of hell. You can’t be going against God’s instruction and still believe you are in alignment with God. God’s Word is God Almighty. You can’t separate God from His Word.
You need the company of other believers. You can’t become better standing alone. You can’t become a better Christian avoiding the gathering of other believers. It is true that you may have experienced a rough encounter with some persons you thought were believers you will confide on but that went sour at the end of the day. You can still find the gathering of true and genuine believers who will not hurt your feeling for their personal gain.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs chapter 27 verses 17)
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews chapter 10 verses 25)
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts chapter 2 verses 42)
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians chapter 5 verses 19)
1 – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 – It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;” (Psalms chapter 133 verses 1 to 2)
5. FASTING
Fasting is an exercise that enables Christian believers to subdue the flesh. It is one exercise that opens the Christian believers to the supernatural intervention. Fasting is an exercise that ignites the spirit man and get one’s antenna enlightened to tap into the spiritual realm. It is an exercise that empowers the spirit man. It is the spirit man that makes the physical man valuable.
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis chapter 2 verses 7)
There is little you can do as a Christian believer who does not believe much in fasting. You have to subdue the flesh if the spirit man must manifest. There is need to deny the flesh for a time to devote our efforts to seeking God in prayer. Anyone who genuinely engaged in the fasting exercise, always come out better. There is no successful Christian who is not a person a prayer. You only become a powerful Christian believer when you learn the act of fasting.
“And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark chapter 9 verses 29)
“And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” (Luke chapter 2 verses 37)
“And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Acts chapter 14 verses 23)
2 – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 – And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts chapter 13 verses 2 to 3)
“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” (Mathew chapter 6 verses 18)
2 – “Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
3 – And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 – And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” (2Chronicles chapter 20 verses 2 to 4)
“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther chapter 4 verses 16)
“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,” (Nehemiah chapter 1 verses 4)
6. MEDITATION
As Christian believers, there is an obligatory for us to study the Word of God. It is also necessary for one to mark the particular verses that struck him or her mind and spent much time meditating on the particular verses. Meditation demands much time than just study the Word. In meditation, you put all your whole focus to a very verses to draw out what the Holy Spirit will reveal through the Word.
In meditation you have to discipline one’s spirit, soul and body. Deep contemplation on the truths of God. Many Christians avoid meditation because they don’t know the important of meditation. There are times God will want to talk to us through His Word. Christian discipline of meditation is about being filled by God’s Holy Presence. You hear the Spirit speaking to your spirit man. Meditation is an instruction from God Almighty to anyone who desires to experience a successful Christian life.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua chapter 1 verses 8)
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms chapter 19 verses 14)
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalms chapter 1 verses 2)
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians chapter 4 verses 8)
7. WITNESSING
The first aim why any Christian believer was saved is to save others. The chair of spreading the gospel was never made to end with a particular person. Everyone who is ever saved has something to testify about the saving grace of God upon his or her life that will charge others to.embrace the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross. You are an agent to witness the gospel wherever you find yourself.
Sharing the Gospel with others is the so called responsibility of every believer. One of the ways we can declare and reveal our allegiance to God is to witness for the finished Word of Christ. Being an effective witness involves how we live before others as well as what, how, and when we share our faith. Witnessing of our Lord Jesus Christ is our call and mission. We are made to be a good representing of God through witnessing for the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts chapter 1 verses 8)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans chapter 1 verses 16)
8. MAKING DISCIPLES
The goal of Christianity is not only in witnessing for the finished work of Christ Jesus, but to disciples those souls to yield completely to the teachings and principles of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. A disciple is a disciplined follower of someone. We need to discipline the new Convert in the way of Christ, so that they will be a good representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the greatest tragedies in the christendom is believers who are not discipled.
In christendom, everyone is permitted to come the way he or she is but not to continue the way he or she came. There should be a change that someone has experienced Christ into his or her life. We are made to do things not our ways, we are made to do things Christ way. To be a true disciple of Christ, it will cost you for it to profit you. God must change you to work through you. God must transform you before He will be able to reveal His glory through you. Disciple obeys without any attachment of sentiment.
18 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 – Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mathew chapter 28 verses 18 to 20)
