As Christians, one of our top goals should be to grow closer to Jesus. While there are many ways to do this, there are a few spiritual practices that will greatly aid in this endeavor. My top three spiritual practices are daily Bible reading, daily prayer, and weekly church attendance. It should be noted that many people are of the mind that spirituality is personal and that church and Bible reading are not necessary, but I wonder how it is possible to learn more about Jesus and feel close to him without these things.
Once these first three spiritual practices have been achieved, there are many other practices that can be quite helpful. Depending on your personality and stage of life, some may be more practical and/or beneficial than others. A few of these might include attending a small group, spending time in meditation or memorization of scripture, giving of finances, giving of time, journaling, fasting, feasting, or something else.
Daily Bible Reading
One of the best ways to know Jesus, is to read his word. How can you claim to know God when you have no idea what God has said to his people? Through daily Bible reading, we can come to know the mind of God more deeply. If you have a Bible with 1500 pages in it, simply reading four pages per day will allow you to read the entire Bible in just over a year. Jesus is worth 4 pages per day!
Consider the words of Amos and whether we are in the drought that he was talking about. If you are in this drought, pray for wisdom regarding how to get out of it!
Behold, the days come,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing Yahweh’s words.
Amos 8:11 (WEB)
Once the Bible has been read through once, it can be tempting to say, “Been there, done that,” and stop reading, but even when a person has read the same passage fifty times, something new may jump out the next time the passage is read. Sometimes things make more sense after having learned a new fact. If you read the new testament first, you may experience the second reading differently once you have read the Old Testament.
Or maybe you will be experiencing a particular situation that will give you a new understanding of a passage that has been read in the past. When you read the story of Mary learning that she will become pregnant, it may be experienced differently depending on whether you are a child, a mother expecting her first baby, a father expecting his first baby, or a grandparent. Similarly, the story of Hannah might be read differently depending on whether you are a child, an adult experiencing infertility, or a person with five children who knows someone experiencing infertility.
Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (WEB)
Your life will change, but the Bible will remain the same. Each time you read the Bible, you will discover something new. Certain stories will become so familiar that you will be able to recite them with a moments notice. Your love of Jesus will grow and other spiritual disciplines will flow out of this one spiritual practice.
Daily Prayer
One thing that will flow from Bible reading is the practice of prayer. When you read this passage in Philippians, it might inspire you to make a daily habit of prayer:
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (WEB)
Jesus himself teaches his disciples to pray and is what many Christians pray today. We call this the Lord’s Prayer:
9 Pray like this:
“‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Matthew 6:9-13 (WEB)
10 Let your Kingdom come.
Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts,
as we also forgive our debtors.
13 Bring us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
There are many reasons to pray. The ACTS method of prayer highlights the biggies: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. All of these are found in the Lord’s Prayer. If helpful, you can print a prayer journal template.
Read: Written Prayers
Read: Blog Posts with a Theme of Prayer
Weekly Church Attendance
Reading your Bible and praying to God are good and right, but God has also designed us to be communal beings. Even after Adam was made, God realized that it was not good for him to be alone. If we want to thrive, most of us will need interaction with at least one other person.
Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:18 (WEB)
Of course, many people will do better with more than just one friend. It is really hard to follow Jesus without community. While it is great to be married to a Christian, even that relationship alone may not be enough to help you to thrive in your relationship with Jesus. As such, this brings us to the spiritual practice of weekly church attendance. A top place to get community is in a church. When believers come together to learn and help each other, it can be very beautiful.
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
Psalms 133:1 (WEB)
Unfortunately, there are many churches that are not very healthy, and it can be quite difficult to get any satisfaction out of participating in this type of church. We need to be reading our Bibles daily and evaluating whether the teaching of a particular church matches the teaching of the Bible. If it doesn’t, we either need to figure out how to fix the problem, or find a new church.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11 (WEB)
Philippians tells us that we need a church that has the mind of Christ and that puts the interests of the group above our own personal interests. This is one great scripture to help us figure out if we are part of a healthy church, but there are many others as well!
If therefore there is any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
Philippians 2:1-5 (WEB)
As we look for a church to make our home, we should be looking for some of these characteristics:
- Is the teaching from the Bible?
- Does the teaching cover the entire Bible, or just the parts that the leaders like?
- Are the members encouraged to seek out other spiritual practices other than just going to church?
- Do the people spend more time loving and helping each other, or more time bickering?
- Is there graciousness and forgiveness between members, or do members hold grudges?
- Do the members like spending time outside of church with each other, or do they just go to church on Sunday morning, then spend the rest of their week with non-Christians?
Please don’t skip church because of one or more bad experiences. Keep reading your Bible and look for a church that meets the standards that are laid out in this wonderful book. No church is perfect, but if you find a church that is committed to following the Bible and humble enough to accept correction when they mess up, you will be on your way to great community with other believers who are striving to become Christ-like in all areas of life.
Other Spiritual Practices
Once the big three spiritual practices have been met, there are plenty of other ways to grow your relationship with God.
Attending a Small Group
In my life, I have found it to be most helpful to attend a small group. You might ask, “What is a small group?” Well, it can be many things, but in essence it is a small group of people who have decided to make a commitment to each other to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Some groups will focus on Bible study and prayer, others will have social gatherings, a few will focus on service activities, but my favorite are groups that combine all of these.
Through participating in a small group, it allows a person to develop close relationships with other Christians. Most groups will have a dedicated time to studying God’s word. New Christians can ask lots of questions and be a disciple. More mature Christians can draw on their years of learning and provide wisdom and mentorship.
All members can bring their problems and struggles to the group. If done properly, a small group can deal with problems both big and small through prayer, seeking the scripture for wisdom, and simply being a friend.
While conversation around scripture and the sharing of prayer requests can begin to build friendships, social activities can allow these relationships to really flourish. Many groups will share meals together, where others will go on outings. An annual apple picking event or camping trip can do wonders to cement relationships.
Also, joining in service projects can be quite beneficial. Something as simple as volunteering at a soup kitchen can be a great way to both share the love of Jesus and grow closer as a group.
If you choose not to participate in a small group, do make sure that you are finding other ways to develop Christian community. For me, it is great that I am married to a Christian man, but sometimes I need the wisdom of Christian women, the example of Christian mothers, and the encouragement of other Christian couples. Find a way to get this for yourself!
Scripture Memorization
As you start to read the Bible, consider memorizing scripture that stands out to you. As you encounter various situations in life, these memorized passages can be drawn upon to provide wisdom.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11 (WEB)
Read: Scripture Memorization with Reflection Questions
Meditation on Scripture
If memorization isn’t your strong point, maybe meditation is. Honestly, I prefer to meditate on scripture rather than memorize it. If this is your preference, you can simply choose a verse or a passage and think deeply on it. Modern meditation seems to be about emptying yourself, but Christian meditation is more about filling yourself with Christ. As you empty your mind of stray thoughts, focus on filling the emptiness with the wisdom of God from whatever scripture you are studying. Even if the exact words of scripture aren’t written into your heart, the meaning will be.
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
Joshua 1:8 (WEB)
All of my scripture memorization posts also contain reflection questions. If you need an aid to get started with meditation, try reading some of these posts. Focus on the scripture verse, then spend some time with the reflection questions and see where it takes you. Eventually, you will be able to look at a verse that you selected yourself and come up with your own reflection questions!
Read: Scripture Memorization with Reflection Questions
Journaling
Some people really dislike both scripture memorization and meditation, but they love to write. If this is you, consider making journaling a regular spiritual practice. Some people can think better as they copy a scripture passage into a journal and then write their thoughts down.
Other people love to keep a prayer journal. If you keep this in a notebook, write your prayers in the journal, then whenever a prayer is answered, make note of it in the margins. It can be really cool to look back at an old journal and see all the answered prayer!
Read: Prayer Journal Templates
Giving of Finances
One of the hardest topics for new Christians is the topic of tithing. In the Old Testament, God asked his followers to give 10% of their income to the temple. Today, most churches encourage members to also give 10% to the church, although various churches have different views about whether this is mandatory or optional. If you have grown up in the church it is somewhat easier to follow your parents’ example, but when starting out in life, it can still be quite painful. For people who have never had this example, this financial burden can be even harder.
The thing to consider is: How can the church be expected to operate if everyone stopped giving? The church needs to pay the pastors, pay the administrative staff, pay the child care supervisors, purchase a building, maintain the building, care for members, send missionaries into the world, run other service programs, and more. If you believe in these programs, consider it a voluntary tax that you are committed to paying. Tithing should not be a punishment, but a joy. God wants us to give to him out of purity and desire, not out of duty and fear of consequences.
11 “What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?”, says Yahweh. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.
16 Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. 17 Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1:11,16-17 (WEB)
Pray for wisdom in this area. If God wants you to give money to the church, he will convict your soul. God has everything he needs and does not want a grudging offering or sacrifice!
Giving of Time
While some people struggle with tithing, others find giving of money easy in comparison to giving of time or service. There can be a temptation to say, I have given money so that the church can hire people to do what needs to be done, but this is a shame. When a person avoids service, that person loses opportunities to build relationships with other Christians and loses the opportunities to see God’s work in action.
The church needs lots of little things to function. Chairs for various meetings don’t get set up on their own. Similarly, the nursery doesn’t get set up or cleaned up, snacks don’t get set out or cleaned up, the communion cups don’t get filled, the microphones don’t work on their own. There are countless things that need fleets of volunteers in a church, and this is just for day to day Sunday-morning operations. Maybe you want to host or lead a small group, organize an outing for the youth group, or provide dinner for the church staff.
When you look at other things that the church operates, there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Maybe you want to go on a short-term mission trip or organize a prayer team for a full-time missionary on the field. Or you could help with your church’s food pantry, nursing home care-team, or after school tutoring/sports center. Every church has different programs and if none of them interest you, consider starting something that does. Currently, I thoroughly enjoy helping out with an ESL program that my church offers.
If your church is too small to have these programs, look wider than your local church. There should be plenty of Christian organizations in your area that offer services to various people groups. Homeless shelters, domestic violence centers, and after school programs always need volunteers!
Pray for wisdom about how God wants you to use your time.
Fasting
Fasting was a common practice during Biblical times, but is much less common in today’s Christian community. Christians who have done it have found many benefits. Some people will spend the time that they would have been eating in prayer. Others use their hunger as a reminder to pray. In any case, prayer works and may people find that prayer and fasting together to be a powerful combination.
Some Christians do partial fasting. Catholics will often fast from meat on Friday’s durning the 40 days of Lent and will only eat fish. Other Christians will choose something they really like and fast from that during Lent. I have known people to fast from video games, coffee, and even sex. Note: only try that last one with consent from your spouse!
Pray about whether either a full fast or a partial fast is something that you would like to try.
Feasting
The opposite of fasting is feasting. While many Christians will fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Easter is a time of gathering together with family and friends for a feast. God doesn’t just want us to pray and fast, he also wants us to party. Don’t forget that Jesus loves a good celebration, after all, his first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding!
He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it. When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
John 2:8-11 (WEB)
Pray about how to add celebrations into your worship of Jesus!
And More
And there are plenty of other spiritual practices that might make sense for you. Some people paint, dance, or host a knitting club. Maybe reading through a devotional book or a book by a Christian author would jumpstart your spiritual growth. Some people do best with classes, other do better with individual study. There are many different directions you could go. Some spiritual practices are fun, others just need to happen.
Read: Book Reviews
The big thing to remember is that Jesus wants a real relationship with you. Your relationship with Jesus should be more important than any other relationship on Earth. If you are only spending 5 minutes per day with Jesus, and are only doing the easy things, rather than the hard, what does that say about his significance in your life?
Reflection Questions
- How are you doing on the big three spiritual practices: daily Bible reading, daily prayer, and weekly church services?
- What needs to change in your life to devote more time to these practices or to make them more enjoyable?
- Which other spiritual practices do you participate in: attending a small group, spending time in meditation or memorization of scripture, giving of finances, giving of time, journaling, fasting, feasting, and/or something else?
- Which spiritual practices do you enjoy? Why?
- Which spiritual practices do you treat like a chore? Why?
- What can you do to improve your relationship with Jesus?
Respond
When considering the theme of spiritual practices, which ones do you find the most helpful or enjoyable? Which do you find the hardest? Consider posting your responses in the comments!
Related Resources
Visit the Joyful Moments in Christ homepage for all posts, or scroll through other blog posts that muse about various topics:
Joyful Moments in Christ 