.Avoid Spiritual Flabbiness

# 545 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:29. “So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."

Let's talk about spiritual discipline today. It seems to me that it is sorely lacking in the church today, and without spiritual discipline we become spiritually flabby. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that spiritual discipline is only for the spiritually elite. It's not. It is an EARMARK of all true followers of Christ.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus named the three spiritual disciplines of His followers and made it clear they WILL engage in them on a regular basis. He said, “When you give to the needy,” (Mt 6:2) and “When you pray,” (Mt 6:5) and “When you fast,” ( Mt 6:16) This is not an option. He didn't say, “SUPPOSE you fast,” or “IF you give to the needy, “ or “PERCHANCE when you pray,” He said “WHEN!”This takes effort and commitment on your part, just as it takes effort and discipline on your part to get your body into shape.

I urge you to get started on these spiritual disciplines in your life. Start small. Start by setting some money aside over and above your tithe to give to the poor. Start rising 15 minutes early every day to spend devotional time with God, and start skipping a meal once a week for the purpose of fasting. Then keep at it because it doesn't take long to lose any edge you may have gained.

FATHER, FORGIVE OUR SPIRITUAL FLABBINESS, LIGHT A FIRE UNDER US THAT WE MAY ONCE AGAIN COMMIT TO THE DISCIPLINES THAT MARK YOUR CHILDREN.