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A Guide to Christian Discipline: Building a Life of Spiritual Habits
Lifestyle
Tamunofiniarisa , ,
A Guide to Christian Discipline: Building a Life of Spiritual Habits

Lifestyle

Christian discipline is the practice of building spiritual habits that help us grow in faith, deepen our relationship with God, and live in alignment with His will. Discipline is not about rigid rules or legalism; its about cultivating a lifestyle that reflects our love for Christ and our desire to follow Him wholeheartedly. By developing spiritual disciplines such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and service, we become more intentional in our walk with God and experience the fullness of His presence and purpose. In this guide, we will explore the importance of Christian discipline, how to build spiritual habits, and the benefits of a disciplined life.

What is Christian Discipline?

Christian discipline refers to the intentional practice of spiritual habits that draw us closer to God and help us grow in Christlikeness. These habits are not performed out of obligation but out of a desire to know God more intimately and to live in obedience to His Word. The apostle Paul emphasized the importance of discipline in the Christian life:

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Just as an athlete trains with discipline to succeed, Christians are called to cultivate spiritual habits that strengthen their faith and help them run the race with endurance.

Why is Christian Discipline Important?

1. Discipline Deepens Our Relationship with God
Spiritual habits like prayer, Bible study, and worship help us spend time in Gods presence and grow in intimacy with Him. Jesus modeled this in His own life, often retreating to pray and spend time with the Father:

“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

Discipline helps us prioritize time with God, allowing us to hear His voice and align our hearts with His will.

2. Discipline Transforms Our Character
As we consistently practice spiritual habits, the Holy Spirit works in us to transform our character, making us more like Christ:

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Discipline shapes our attitudes, thoughts, and actions, helping us reflect Christs love and holiness in our daily lives.

3. Discipline Equips Us to Resist Temptation
Spiritual discipline strengthens our ability to resist temptation and remain faithful to God. Jesus, when tempted in the wilderness, relied on Scripture and His intimate connection with the Father to overcome:

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

By developing spiritual habits, we are better equipped to stand firm in the face of trials and temptations.

4. Discipline Prepares Us for Gods Work
Christian discipline prepares us to serve God and others. As we grow in spiritual maturity, we become more available and equipped to fulfill the purposes God has for our lives:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Through discipline, we become vessels ready for Gods use, empowered to share the gospel and serve His Kingdom.

Key Spiritual Habits to Cultivate

1. Daily Prayer
Prayer is the foundation of a disciplined spiritual life. It is our way of communicating with God, expressing our gratitude, confessing our sins, and bringing our needs before Him. Jesus taught the importance of persistent and consistent prayer:

“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)

Make prayer a daily habit, setting aside time each day to connect with God and seek His guidance.

2. Bible Study and Meditation
Gods Word is our source of truth, guidance, and spiritual nourishment. Studying Scripture regularly helps us understand Gods character, His promises, and His will for our lives:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Meditating on Scripture allows us to internalize its truths and apply them to our daily decisions.

3. Worship and Praise
Worship is an essential part of our relationship with God. It reminds us of His greatness and draws us into deeper fellowship with Him. Whether through singing, prayer, or reflecting on Gods attributes, worship helps us focus on God rather than our circumstances:

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” (Psalm 95:6)

Make worship a regular part of your life, both privately and in community with other believers.

4. Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves voluntarily abstaining from food or other distractions to focus on God. It helps us prioritize our relationship with Him and seek His guidance during significant decisions or challenges:

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance.” (Matthew 6:16)

Fasting enhances our spiritual sensitivity and dependence on God.

5. Service to Others
Serving others is a reflection of Christs love and an essential aspect of Christian discipline. Jesus Himself modeled servanthood, reminding His disciples of the importance of putting others first:

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Look for opportunities to serve in your church, community, or family, making service a regular habit in your life.

How to Build a Life of Christian Discipline

1. Set Clear Goals for Spiritual Growth
Discipline begins with intentionality. Set specific goals for your spiritual growth, such as committing to daily prayer, reading a chapter of Scripture each day, or serving in a new ministry. Clear goals provide direction and motivation.

2. Create a Daily Routine
Establish a routine that includes time for spiritual habits. Whether its morning prayer, evening Bible study, or midweek worship, consistency is key to building discipline:

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

3. Be Accountable to Others
Accountability helps us stay disciplined and committed to spiritual growth. Share your goals with a trusted friend, pastor, or small group who can encourage and support you:

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

4. Rely on the Holy Spirit for Strength
Discipline is not about relying on your own strength but on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain you. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the grace and strength to remain faithful in your spiritual habits:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

5. Be Patient with Yourself
Building spiritual discipline is a process that takes time. Be patient with yourself as you grow, and dont be discouraged by setbacks. Trust that God is working in you as you seek to follow Him more closely:

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

The Blessings of a Disciplined Spiritual Life

1. Closer Relationship with God
As you build spiritual habits, you will experience a deeper intimacy with God, hearing His voice more clearly and feeling His presence more strongly:

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8)

2. Spiritual Strength and Endurance
Discipline equips you to face lifes challenges with faith and resilience, knowing that God is your source of strength:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31)

3. Greater Joy and Peace
Discipline brings joy and peace as we live in alignment with Gods will and experience the blessings of His guidance and provision:

“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165)

A Prayer for Spiritual Discipline

Lord, teach us to walk in Your ways,
To seek You in both work and praise.
Help us pray and study well,
That in Your presence we may dwell.

Give us strength to serve and grow,
And guide us in the ways we go.
With Your Spirit, help us stay,
Faithful to You every day.

In Jesus’ name, we humbly pray,
Grant us discipline in all we say. Amen.

In Conclusion

Christian discipline is essential for growing in faith and deepening your relationship with God. By cultivating spiritual habits such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and service, you build a life that reflects Christs love and truth. While discipline requires intentional effort, the rewards are greatcloser fellowship with God, greater spiritual strength, and the joy of living in His presence.

May you be strengthened and encouraged as you pursue a life of Christian discipline, and may God guide you in every step of your spiritual journey.

On Immigration, Christian Voters Face Their Biggest Test Yet
Top Stories
Tamunofiniarisa , ,
On Immigration, Christian Voters Face Their Biggest Test Yet

Top Stories Tamfitronics

If the United States stands for religious freedom, then it should not be blocking refugees fleeing persecution from entering the country, a group of Christian organizations said this week.

While more Christians are trying to escape violent persecution for their faith around the world, the groups said the Biden administration’s effective asylum ban and former President Donald Trump’s hint that he would end a refugee resettlement program both had consequences.

Shortly before the report from World Relief and Open Doors U.S., over 200 faith leaders wrote an open letter to both presidential candidates, asking for them to apply biblical principles to their immigration policies.

“We can’t profess to defend international religious freedom while simultaneously closing the doors to those facing persecution on account of their faith,” Chelsea Sobolik, director of global relations at World Relief, said at a briefing Monday.

In the 2023 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, nearly 29,500 Christian refugees from 50 countries had been admitted into the U.S. The State of the Golden Door report warned that the U.S. must not be closed to more.

Top Stories Tamfitronics Kamala Harris and Donald Trump at border
Left: US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (L) visits the US-Mexico border with US Border Patrol Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin in Douglas, Arizona, on September 27, 2024. Right: National Border Patrol…REBECCA NOBLE/AFP/Getty Images

According to the report, one in seven Christians worldwide live under the threat of persecution, including those in countries like North Korea, Iran and China, and Christian leaders in the U.S. have lined up to support them.

One of the co-signers of the letter, Ben Marsh, who leads First Alliance Church in Winston, North Carolina, told Newsweek that he believes people who spread anti-immigrant rhetoric “can’t be Christian.”

Marsh described anti-immigrant sentiment among Christians as “ill informed at best and xenophobic at worst”.

“The ill-informed are those who think we do not have enough money to help Americans because we are spending too much money on immigrants,” he said. “This is simply not borne out by reality, as World Relief and many other organizations show.”

“Immigrants are a net gain from a tax-paying perspective, and they commit crimes at a lower rate than native-born Americans.”

Immigrants are less likely to commit crimes compared to U.S. citizens, according to a study by the Cato Institute.

Top Stories Tamfitronics ‘Dehumanizing’ language used against migrants

Top Stories Tamfitronics US Mexico border migrants
From an aerial view U.S. Border Patrol agents gather a group of Colombian asylum seekers after they crossed over from Mexico on September 22, 2024 near Jacumba Hot Springs, California. Immigrant border crossings remain low…John Moore/Getty Images

As the presidential campaign enters the final stretch, Trump is focused on the defining issues of his campaign: border security.

“When I win on Nov. 5, the migrant invasion ends and the restoration of our country begins,” he said at a rally in the key swing state of Arizona on Sunday in front of a crowd of MAGA supporters.

Trump has proposed a mass deportation policy and increasingly dark rhetoric throughout the campaign, which has been criticized by religious leaders.

The former president has characterized immigrants as criminals and unknown entities coming into the U.S. to damage the country’s way of life, often referring to them speaking languages never heard of or understood.

Part of that has included repeating debunked claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating residents’ pets, along with the notion that Venezuelans had overrun Aurora, Colorado.

“I make this pledge and vow to you, November 5, 2024, will be liberation day in America,” Trump said at a rally in the Colorado city on Friday. “I will rescue Aurora and every town that has been invaded and conquered.”

Top Stories Tamfitronics Mass deportation now signs RNC
Attendees hold signs that read “Make America Strong Again” and “Mass Deportation Now” on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 17, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Trump said he would seek the death penalty for any undocumented migrant who killed an American citizen or law enforcement officer.

The Republican nominee also pledged to hire 10,000 more U.S. Border Patrol agents, after ordering the GOP to kill the bipartisan border security bill that would have added 1,500 more personnel.

Newsweek asked the Trump campaign whether Christian values would be applied to immigration policies, should he win a second term, but the question went unanswered.

“The Harris-Biden administration has unconscionably abused our refugee and asylum systems and turned them into programs to import mass numbers of unvetted migrants from the most dangerous countries on earth, at the expense of Christians and other persecuted religious minorities who those programs were intended to help,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the campaign, said in a statement.

During Trump’s first administration, he tried to dismantle refugee programs and implemented a series of policies aimed at limiting access to the asylum process.

These included family separations, the “Remain in Mexico” program, third-country asylum agreements, and narrowing asylum eligibility based on domestic violence and gang-related threats.

The administration also attempted to restrict the number of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border through various regulatory changes and legal challenges. These actions faced significant pushback in courts and from advocacy groups.

Top Stories Tamfitronics Limiting asylum has global consequences

While Trump’s rhetoric is not new — he launched his first bid for the White House in 2015 famously by decrying “rapists” and “criminals” streaming across the border, he leaders voiced concerns about an apparent shift to the right on the issue by the Democrats.

Top Stories Tamfitronics Migrants moving towards US in Mexico
Migrants, mostly from Central America and Venezuela, walk towards the United States on the outskirts of Tuzantan, Chiapas State, Mexico, on July 24, 2024. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from Venezuela and Central America, continued their…ISAAC GUZMAN/AFP via Getty Images

President Joe Biden’s decision to effectively ban asylum entries at the southwest border in June worried these leaders. Messages of a tougher stance on the border following the election also did not fit with the polling of evangelicals, a key Trump voting bloc. A vast majority said they believe the U.S. had a moral responsibility to accept refugees.

“When the U.S. drops their [refugee admission] numbers, countries around the world all drop their numbers,” Nadine Maenza, president of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat, said Monday. “So when we close our doors, guess what happens? Other countries close their doors, and it becomes an even larger problem in the world.

“More countries in the world should open their doors, and we have this opportunity to be a leader in providing refuge for those fleeing persecution.”

Newsweek reached out to the Harris campaign for comment Monday via email.

The Vice President has said repeatedly that she would seek to reintroduce the bipartisan border bill, which would help ease illegal immigration while speeding up legal pathways.

“The United States has been enriched by generations of people who have come from every corner of the world to contribute to our country and to become part of the American story, and so we must reform our immigration system to ensure that it works in an orderly way, that it is humane, and that it makes our country stronger,” Harris said at a campaign event in Georgia on Sept. 27.

Top Stories Tamfitronics What do Christian leaders want to see?

Marsh said that just and fair policy would involve a secure southern border and “loving” treatment for migrants entering the country.

“Neither party is perfect – the question to me is, which party is moving people toward a just treatment of the people coming to our doors? Justice would involve a safe border but also a loving treatment of the people arriving.

“That’s the key: to ‘love them as yourself’ as Leviticus 19:34 commands. We almost had a solid movement toward a just treatment that was bipartisan in nature, lead by Southern Baptist pastor and Senator James Lankford but it was shut down by Donald Trump.”

Top Stories Tamfitronics Migrants at US Mexico border
Asylum seekers are taken into custody by U.S. Border Patrol agents after they crossed a remote area of the U.S.-Mexico border on September 19, 2024 near Jacumba Hot Springs, California. The issues of asylum and…John Moore/Getty Images

Speaking during Monday’s briefing, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas told Newsweek that as a Christian, he felt there was a need for a balanced approach to border policies.

“I think that what we can see in the country right now, we Christians have a big job ahead of us, quite a task, to bring the message across,” he said. “But it’s not quite as much a lost battle as we might sometimes feel, because I think people are reacting to extreme rhetoric.”

The bishop and the open letter referenced a Jan. 2024 poll of evangelical Christians, which showed 91 percent of those asked wanted policies that respected the dignity of every person, while the same number wanted policies which secured the border.

Many felt the “dehumanizing” language seen in some portrayals of migrants, which has continued throughout the election cycle, was offensive.

“We have to reframe the whole discussion and help people to recognize that while, of course, vetting has to take place, we will find that those who are coming, the vast percentage of them are people you would be proud to have as a neighbor,” Bishop Seitz added.

Christian Leaders Unite in Signing ‘Confession of Evangelical Conviction’ before the 2024 Election
Politics
Tamunofiniarisa , ,
Christian Leaders Unite in Signing ‘Confession of Evangelical Conviction’ before the 2024 Election

Politics tamfitronics

With the 2024 election less than two months away, more than 300 leaders have signed a statement outlining their shared beliefs about the relationship between faith and politics. The statement, signed by notable Christian leaders, is titled “Confession of Evangelical Conviction” and encourages Christians to consider each candidate’s “character and not merely their promises or political success.” One signatory, Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and pastor of The Gathering Place Assemblies of God congregation in Orlando, Florida, told The Christian Post he is “encouraged” by the support of the statement from a broad swath of Pentecostal and Evangelical leaders from across the country.

“[They] may be different in terms of … the way they vote, see the centrality of the Gospel,” he said. “I think that it’s a good reminder, and I’m hopeful that … people who give a close read to it don’t see it as anything more than a pastoral call to ‘let’s engage this in the spirit of Christ and let’s not hurt the credibility of our Christian and Evangelical witness by speaking ill of other people who may disagree with us.'”

Notable signatories include Russell Moore, former head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Revs. Galen Carey and Walter Kim of the National Association of Evangelicals; Justin Giboney of the And Campaign; progressive Christian author Shane Claiborne of the advocacy group Red Letter Christians, Christian rapper Lecrae and megachurch Pastor Joel C. Hunter.

Several signatories, including Moore, Claiborne, and Ekemini Uwan of the advocacy group Evangelicals for Harris, have been outspoken in their opposition to former President Donald Trump and the evangelicals who support him. Nevertheless, Salguero maintained that the statement goes beyond politics.

“This document is not aimed at anyone,” he told CP. “This document is a call to put Christ first in all our public engagement. I think that I, as a pastor, don’t use the language of …aimed at this or aimed at that; I think that’s political language, not pastoral language. And I’m not a politician; I’m a pastor. And so I try to eschew phrases like ‘this is aimed at.'”

Salguero called the statement a “Gospel-centered, biblical call to … engage in the public sphere with respect, with the spirit of Christ, with the tone of Christ and with the truth of Scripture” that is, “balancing grace and truth without being uncivil, without name-calling, without being [harsh] to people who may disagree with us or who we may disagree with.”

“It’s not aimed at anyone,” he stressed. “It’s a call to the Church to remember that we engage in the public sphere in the spirit of Christ and with the teachings of Jesus.”

“We call people from every part of the political spectrum to respect and love each other,” he added.

Salguero noted that members of his family and congregation are both Democrats and Republicans.

“There are Republicans and Democrats who, I think, if they read the confession closely, would be fine in saying, ‘Hey, this is about having the Gospel as a primary allegiance,'” he said.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/lawcain

Politics tamfitronics Milton QuintanillaMilton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.

“Christian: Label or Lifestyle” by Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets will be displayed at the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair
Lifestyle
Tamunofiniarisa , ,
“Christian: Label or Lifestyle” by Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets will be displayed at the 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair

Lifestyle

The book tells about the faith that a man shared with his great-grandson around 1955, before his teens. Thomas believes teaching Godly family values to the next generation is each generations responsibility.

Frankfurt, Germany – WEBWIRE –

We are all called to live a holy, obedient lifestyle in anticipation and preparation for the return of Jesus as The Righteous Judge.THIS IS OUR ONLY HOPE – THE BLESSED HOPE OF JESUS RETURN

The self-publishing and book marketing company ReadersMagnet continues to celebrate the art of storytelling for all ages. The company will be exhibiting at the Frankfurt Book Fair for the second time this October 16-20, 2024, at the Messe Frankfurt, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. ReadersMagnet will display heaps of the most compelling literature booklovers have yet to read, one of which is the book on religion Christian: Label or Lifestyle by Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets.

Christian: Label or Lifestyle features a photo of the authors friend, Jerry Payne, held by his great-grandfather, William Arthur Snidow. Thomas book is about the faith that this man shared with young Jerry around 1955, before his teens. Thomas describes that faith as a Holiness Doctrine of living in anticipation and preparation for The Second Coming.

Snidow, born in 1860, embodied a lifestyle and beliefs that were deeply rooted in his faith, a faith that Jerry seamlessly carried forward in his own life. Through their friendship, Jerry not only brought this faith into Thomass life but also in his writing, thereby creating a powerful continuum of influence.

Thomas believes teaching Godly family values to the next generation is each generations responsibility. He hopes his readers will find his book an aid in that cause. Christian: Label or Lifestyle is for anyone ready to embrace Gods love in their lives.

Get a copy of Christian: Label or Lifestyle by Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ReadersMagnet Bookstore. Learn more about the author by visiting his website: https://www.onthatday-timothy2468.com/. Visit the ReadersMagnet exhibit at the Frankfurt Book Fair (FIBF) 2024 at stand number 6.0 B11 to check out the book display.

Author
Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets is an eighty-year-old semi-retired businessman who, while never attending college, has had a reasonably successful career. He is now living at Providence Farm in Bedford County, Virginia, and presently has a beef cattle operation, raising calves for the feeder market. During discussions with a friend, a retired pastor, and a marine chaplain who has decided that he is done with the church, Tom was challenged to write a book. His friend understood his ongoing frustration with both the message and direction of the established church and felt that many others shared this frustration.

Tom, who has a heart for the lost within the church, believes that the church has been hijacked by the instant-gratification crowd. Thus, he felt that he was challenged to address this issue, and as a result of this challenge, The Road to Restoration, The Death of the Promise, and the Resurrection of The Promised were developed, on that Day and Christian: Label or Lifestyle.

Christian: Label or Lifestyle
Author: Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets
Book Genre: Religion
Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
Published Date: March 24, 2024

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