Four Keys to Personal Renewal: Rewewing Your Spiritual Muscles

Hi, everyone! It’s Reen again. I’m back with this week’s blog and Linda sends her love. As we consider renewal this month, one area of particular importance is spiritual discipline. When people hear the word “discipline” their first thoughts are of pain (“no pain, no gain”), hard work, and something they’d rather avoid.

But discipline is important to progress in any skill or field. No great concert pianist becomes successful by just “winging it,” but instead invests decades of practice in the field. He or she realizes that the beauty of his or her music is worth the pain of disciplined practice.

In the same way, spiritual disciplines are important to develop our “faith muscles.” Two comments on the news led me to cover this subject. While discussing the fact that increased tensions with China and Russia are disturbing, one congressman stated very wisely that, “Weakness invites aggression,” and another said, “Deterrence requires force.”

These comments reminded me that many Christians don’t realize we live in a constant state of spiritual warfare. The enemy’s attacks are relentless and devastating. These attacks come from an enemy who seeks to “kill, maim, and destroy.” As Ephesians 6:12 states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

BUT make no mistake, despite the attacks of the enemy, God did not leave us defenseless. He left us the power and protection of the Holy Spirit. He also empowered us with His Word and the spiritual gifts to fight off the enemy. But all these weapons will do no good unless we use them.

To fight back against the enemy requires using the Sword of the Spirit, God’s own undefeatable Word as described by Paul,

“Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:13-17 Amp).

To develop these protections, let’s start reading good books on spiritual disciplines this Spring. The “Celebration of Discipline” by Richard J. Foster and “The Spirit of the Disciplines” by Dallas Willard are among the best I’ve read. If you want to drive off the enemy, it’s time to ramp up your Bible reading, Bible memorization, prayer, worship, and fasting. If you memorize scripture when you are assaulted, you can quote God’s Word and drive off the enemy.

Sign up for classes at church to grow your faith. Pick up a Bible reading plan. It doesn’t take a lot but it does take discipline to grow your spiritual muscles. Just fifteen minutes a day reading your Bible is a great start!

The more you grow your faith and develop your spiritual muscles, the stronger you become. Jesus promised you His “Resurrected Life” when He spoke the words, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]” (John 10:10). Reach out now and embrace this promised life that is yours. Grow your spiritual muscles so you can face the challenges of life with the Holy Spirit’s power and victory.