Why Every Christian Needs Spiritual Disciplines (And How to Start).
1 Timothy 4:8:
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Many believers struggle with staying connected to God in this busy and noisy world. But here’s the good news, God has given us simple, powerful habits – called “spiritual disciplines” – to help us grow closer to Him. These aren’t just religious rules; they’re lifelines that help strengthen our faith in God, renew our minds, and keep us grounded in God’s truth.
So, why should you practice spiritual disciplines? And how can you start? Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand and even easier to apply.
Why We Sometimes Drift Away from God …
Life is full of so many distractions. Work, family, social media, and endless responsibilities pull us in every direction. Without realizing it, we can go days, or even weeks, without truly connecting with God.
Sometimes,
– We pray less. (Or only when we’re in trouble.)
– We read the Bible sporadically. (If at all.)
– We let busyness replace worship.
The result? We feel spiritually weak, drained, discouraged, and easily swayed by temptations flying all around.
But thanks be to God for the ready-made solutions He has for us!
“Spiritual Disciplines That Work”
Spiritual disciplines are simple, Bible-based habits that help us develop intimacy with God. They’re not about earning His love, we already have that! Instead, they help us “experience” more of His manifest presence, grow in faith, and live a purposeful life.
If we do not consistently engage in spiritual disciplines as believers, we become easily swayed or affected by the temptations, distresses, troubles and darkness going on in the world. But when we consistently engage in spiritual disciplines and exercise, we become more fearless, tenacious, self-controlled and victorious over and against whatever life throws at us.
Here are some 4 key disciplines every believer should always practice:
1. Daily Prayer (Talk to God Like a Friend):
Prayer shouldn’t be treated like a last-resort emergency call, it’s how we communicate with our father God – it should be our way of life.
Pray like Jesus did – regularly and honestly.
Pray continually – (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Intentionally factor your prayer time into your daily agenda. You could even start with just 5 minutes a day.
2. Bible Reading (God’s Guidebook for Life):
Many believers ignore the Bible, then wonder why they feel lost, weak, confused or drained in life.
Practice reading a little every day—even just one or few verses. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
Try this: Read one chapter of Proverbs each day (there are 31 – perfect for a month!).
3. Fasting (Resetting Your Spiritual Focus):
Many of us today are controlled by different cravings (food, social media, etc.).
Fast to help put your body under subjection to your Spirit and to remind yourself that God is your greatest need.
“When you fast… your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:18)
You could start small: Skip one meal and spend that time in prayer, especially praying in tongues.
4. Believers Community (You Can’t Grow Alone):
Many try to follow Jesus solo and then burn out in isolation. You need to be in the company of other believers. Get plugged into a church or small group of like-minded growing believers who truly loves God.
“Let us not give up meeting together… but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)
What Happens When You Begin to Practice These Habits?
You won’t become perfect overnight. But over time, you and the people around you will begin to notice transformation & growth in your life:
✅ Closer friendship with God (He’ll feel more real to you.)
✅ Stronger faith in trying times (You’ll always trust Him instead of panicking.)
✅ Freedom from bad habits (You’ll learn to always rely on God’s strength, not willpower.)
✅ You begin to experience spiritual freshness and transformation in every department of your life. You become a better person producing the fruit of the Spirit in your life.
✅ You experience more joy, peace, rest and purposeful living (Life makes alot of sense when you walk with God.)
Your Next Step: Start Small, Stay Consistent!
You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick one discipline to focus on this week!
– Struggling with prayer? Get an accountability partner or Set a daily alarm for a 10-minute chat with God to start with.
– Struggling to keep up reading the Bible?** Download a Bible app with a daily reading plan (Youversion Bible App) and plan to commit to it.
– Feeling discouraged or disconnected? Text a Christian friend, meet up and get some good dose of Godly encouragement.
Friend,God isn’t grading your performance. He just loves you dearly and wants to spend time with you always. The more you seek Him, the more you’ll find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
“Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by intention.”
Which discipline will you start with today?
