Lost: Spiritual Disciplines

Scripture speaks about fasting, about meditation, about worship, about discipleship and about prayer . . . Are these the spiritual disciplines? Do you think there are others that should be included above?

While they were worshipping with the Lord and Fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So, after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:2

I find it interesting that fasting is connected to both worship and prayer in this passage. What do you see?

I believe that we have largely lost the value and understanding of these spiritual disciplines within at least the Evangelical Christian Community. I confess that this is more an opinion than a scientific poll or observation of a broader spectrum of Christianity. It's kind of like Instant Replay in the NFL, I don't see "indisputable proof" that would cause me to change the call.

When was the last time you heard a sermon about fasting or meditation? Perhaps a better forum for that discussion is in a mentoring relationship... Do you think that Discipleship is a lost function for believers today? There are certainly plenty of how-to manuals for Christian living, but what about our consideration and meditation on The Manual for Living - the Living Breathing Word of God.

I recall an assistant professor saying, "why is it that American Christian's need formulas" in reference to a book titled something along the lines of 28 Days to a Better Prayer Life ... I don't remember the title exactly. But the point he was making still rings true to me more than 10 years later.

Should not our Christian walk be about the Relationship [with Him] and not worrying about whether or not we've crossed our T's and dotted our I's on today's Checklist for Healthy Spirit Filled Living?

Please understand, that's not to say that the disciplines should not be practiced faithfully - they should, otherwise they are not disicplines. More to the point, it's too easy to get caught up in the habit and ritual of performing Christianty that we forget to connect our heart's to His in the process.