More what?
Bible study.
2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
Sometimes more content. Other times, more detail. Always, more careful attention.
Day 17 – Listen more carefully to the Spirit.
More discipline in worship.
This isn’t about whispering during prayer time or daydreaming during the sermon.
It’s about truth.
John 4:23b (CEV)
Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth.
Take note: worship is a spiritual discipline.
Day 16 — Yes, indeed! More God, less me.
Last week I focused on disciplines of less.
This week will be about more:
John the Baptist got it right.
John 3:30 (NIV)
He must become greater;
I must become less.
Day 15 – More Jesus, less me.
summer + social isolation = long, lazy naps
Proverbs 6:10-11a (NCV)
You sleep a little; you take a nap.
You fold your hands and lie down to rest.
So you will be as poor as if you had been robbed.
Enough rest is good. Too much is not.
Day 14 – Less laziness.
Day 13 – As I think about the discipline of simplicity,
threads of a song drift through my memory:
“Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free
‘Tis a gift to come down where I ought to be.”
Attributed to Joseph Brackett (1797–1882)
The song is right. The simple life is a gift.
Lord, grant me the wisdom to accept your simple gift.
I retired from my office job. I have a closet filled with clothes I no longer wear.
My daily Bible study took me to the book of Luke and John the Baptist’s message:
Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)
“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”
You talkin’ to me, John?
Day 12 – Time to share!
I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to use this quotation. Today’s the day!
“If we have not quiet in our minds,
outward comfort will do no more for us
than a glass slipper on a gouty foot.”
John Bunyan (1628-1688)
God delivered some unexpected quiet yesterday, when tropical storm Isaias knocked out our electricity for a day. No humming appliances, no TV, no alarms, no internet–a bit of blessed candlelit silence.
Day 11 – it is good to step away from the noise and find some quiet space (at least in your head) to share with God.
Less is all about “No.”
No to more is yes to less!
Titus 2:12 (NIRV)
His grace teaches us to say no to godless ways and sinful desires. We must control ourselves. We must do what is right.
Day 10 – Just say no.
Proverbs 30:15-16 (MSG)
A leech has twin daughters
named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”
Three things are never satisfied,
no, there are four that never say,
“That’s enough, thank you!”
2-3-4 — “Gimme more.“
Day 9 – God is teaching me, “That’s enough.“
Spiritual disciplines are practices–deliberate choices and actions–that imitate Christ, grow our souls and increase our faith.
1 John 2:6 (NLT)
Those who say they live in God
should live their lives as Jesus did.
Some of these spiritual disciplines involve less, not more:
These are the practices I’ll focus on this week.
Day 8 – Time for less.
