Creating Space

So many of us want to know God, but we struggle in our busy lives to fit in spiritual things. We want to study God in the Bible, interact with God in prayer, and worship God in community with others. Yet too often we find our lives too full of other things, and there is not space for God. Life never seems to slow down, and we can find ourselves drifting away, losing focus of the One who wants to walk through life with us.

For some, there is a sense of obligation to spiritual matters, and a defeated guilt when spiritual things are not part of each day. Friends, this is not the relationship God invites us into!

Henri Nouwen described the spiritual disciplines as "the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God... a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to" (see reference). It is slowing down enough to allow God to re-align our souls with his. It is giving him room to work in our lives.

Dallas Willard notes that, just as there are sins of commission (things we do, but we shouldn't) and sins of omission (things we don't do, but we should), there are disciplines of engagement (things we intentionally do) and disciplines of abstention (things we intentionally avoid doing). Further, he suggests that one struggling with a sin of commission (such as backbiting) ought to consider a discipline of abstention (such as silence). Similarly, one struggling with a sin of omission (such as joylessness) will likely grow through a discipline of engagement (such as celebration).

What is God calling you to, right now?

Discipleship is intentional. When we choose to accept God's invitation to be disciples -- that is, Christ-followers -- it is not a decision to be made lightly. Let's be attentive, and stay in step with the Master.