SPIRITUAL
PRACTICES
INWARD PRACTICES
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Through daily scripture reading we draw closer to Jesus, believe His promises, and obey His instructions. Hebrews 4:12 shows us the importance of the Word saying, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
PRACTICE: Read the Bible daily. Join a City Group. Complete a “Bible in 1 year” reading plan.
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Through prayer you can invite God into the depths of your heart and make room for Him. You can talk to him, listen, and draw close to him. Pray honestly by sharing your love, thankfulness, burdens, fears, or needs with Him.
PRACTICE: Create a daily prayer rhythm with God. Pick a time and place, it's time to meet with him.
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Fasting is a way of offering ourselves to God. This practice teaches us how to submit our bodies to our spirit. In this practice we replace eating with prayer and depend fully on God to be fed spiritually.
PRACTICE: Fast for 1 day, and offer yourself to Jesus. Join our corporate fasting day every Wednesday.
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It is essential that we commit to pausing every week to rest from our work, recharge, and be renewed. Resting creates space to grow gratitude, delight, awe, and wonder in God. The Sabbath is a gift to be received and celebrated consisting of ceasing, embracing, feasting, and resting.
PRACTICE: Set aside a day or part of a day to delight in God, have a meal with community, and a private time of devotions and worship. Sabbath typically starts on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening, but feel free to choose another day.
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Scripture tells us Jesus went to a place of solitude to pray. This practice helps us to quiet ourselves and learn to be with Jesus in the secret place.
PRACTICE: Set aside some time to quietly sit with the Lord. Invite him into the moment, rest in who he is, meditate on his beauty.
OUTWARD PRACTICES
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We are designed for rich meaningful relationships where trust and love grows. Through community we step into confession and accountability, which purifies us and helps us become more like Jesus. In a society filled with isolation and loneliness, it is vital to build an intentional community.
PRACTICE: Join and consistently participate in a City Group. Sign up for the Practicing the Way course. Set up weekly or monthly calls, coffee meetings, etc. with fellow believers where you focus on sharing deep, meaningful, and hidden things. Find practical ways to support one another.
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Our primary identity as sons and daughters is servants. Establishing the practice of serving with your gifts will bring fulfillment and keep you grounded in self-giving love instead of hollow self-serving. We serve best with others in a team environment.
PRACTICE: Find a team at church, in the community, or at work to serve with at least once per month to build relationships and use the gifts and skills the Lord has entrusted you with.
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The practice of generosity helps us to live a life of freedom and contentment in Jesus. It is joyful to be generous, especially when we realize all we have belongs to God. Practicing this helps realize the needs around us, and moves us to compassion for the poor and marginalized.
PRACTICE: Evaluate areas you are being generous and areas that you could improve in. Prayerfully create weekly & monthly goals on how to utilize your time, money, and gifts. Consider how God is leading you to contribute at church and the community. Put God first through tithes.
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The beauty of having relationship with Jesus is getting to give Jesus away to others. Every believer is called to do the things Jesus did on this earth, and even greater. The practice of witness teaches us to look outward and step out in boldness in our communities.
PRACTICES: Build relationship with someone in your community who doesn't know Jesus. Ask them how you can pray for them, share with them what Jesus has done in your life.
ONE STEP TOWARDS A HEALTHY PRACTICE
Think about all the steps you have taken to get where you are right now. It can seem overwhelming as you count them, but you took them. The difference between where we are and where God wants us to be is just one step.