Discipline or Desire?
Theme of the Week: Where's Your Inner Drive?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming" (Psalm 27:8). Bonus Reading: Matthew 5:3-10
If I don't have the drive to know God, practicing the spiritual disciplines will have about as much success for me as my trumpet lessons did. I was going through the motions, but I really didn't want it.
If my passion is to play the guitar, I'll find out everything I can about the subject and attack it with vigor. If my passion is to know God, spiritual disciplines will hardly be "work" for me. Spending time on spiritual things or seeing things from a spiritual perspective becomes something I love. These things aren't steps I go through to arrive at some spiritual level; I'm seeking after God with a passion.
Jesus didn't say [in today's Bonus Reading], "Blessed are those who have a consistent daily quiet time, for they shall become spiritual giants." But it's also true that when you realize your need of God and hunger and thirst for him, you probably won't start the day without him.
Of course the big issue here is how to get the desire if you don't have it. I believe that ultimately desire comes from inside our hearts and is put there by God. It can't be drummed up or produced on demand. It's something we need to ask him for. [continued 10/21]
—John Fischer in Indeed
My Response: I'd gauge my desire level for time spent with God as …
Thought to Apply: We could hardly wait to get up in the morning.—Wilbur Wright (on testing gliders with his brother Orville)
Adapted from Indeed (9-10/03) by permission; {4-7}.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
 share this page
Don't allow me to settle for just going through the motions, Lord. Help me discover how to come fully alive.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 
RSS Feed
