Key spiritual growth disciplines for the Christian family

Allow me now to say a few words on key Christian disciplines, the practice or absence of which will almost certainly determine the ongoing life-quality you experience.

Prayer and Fasting
Prayer is the lifeblood of communication with God. It is as important for our spiritual health as breathing is to our physical health. It is not thinking to yourself about God, it is actually talking to God, interspersed with times of quietness to listen to what He might say to you in your spirit. Pray often, regularly, continually. Pray in the morning alone in your own private space. Pray 'under your breath' as you go about all that you do through the day. Pray together with a 'prayer-partner' on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Pray together as a corporate group. Remember, Jesus said that He is with us always to the end of the age (Matt 28:20), that means we can talk with Him at any time. Do it!

When we combine prayer with fasting, we can expect that God will really meet us and empower us for great things! The more we "crucify" the flesh through fasting, the more we can hear God and pray in accordance with His will (cf. Acts 10:30; Acts 13:2). Jesus said that the time will come (ie. after his resurrection and ascension) when his followers will fast (Mark 2:20). Note that by definition, long periods of uninterrupted prayer requires fasting (because eating disturbs the intense and focussed time of listening to God). Sometimes the Holy Spirit will guide you as to when you should dedicate times to prayer and fasting; other times you yourself will realize that you need to plan times for prayer and fasting, because the work before you is so full of responsibility.

As to what we should pray, the Bible says to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Eph 6:18). This indicates that we can ask the Holy Spirit what we should pray for, and when these thoughts come to our mind, talk to God about them. He will generally direct us to pray for other Christians and their needs, our own building up in the faith, boldness, intercessions for unsaved people and our government leaders. Praying in tongues is also a very effective way to conquer all negativity, doubt, temptation and satanic attack. If you don't know what to pray, or are having no success in conquering spiritual attack, try praying in tongues.

The following is a prayer encapsulating all of Paul's prayers from his letters to the churches:

Dear Father in heaven,
I pray that you would give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know you better. I pray also that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which you have called us, the riches of your glorious inheritance in the saints, and your incomparably great power for us who believe. (cf Ephesians 1:17-19a)
I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner beings, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that we may be filled to the measure of all your fullness. (cf Ephesians 3:16-19)
And I pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to your glory and praise. (cf Philippians 1:9-11)
And so I pray that you would fill us with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may live a life worthy of you and may please you in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in knowledge of you, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to you, Father, because you have qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For you have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son you love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (cf Colossians 1:9b10-14)
I pray that we, together with all Christians everywhere, may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that we may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that we may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (cf Colossians 2:2-3)
And so I pray, Father, that we may stand firm in all your will, mature and fully assured, (Colossians 4:12b)
and that you may count us worthy of your calling, and that by your power you may fulfill every good purpose of ours and every act prompted by our faith. I pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us, and we in him, according to your grace and that of your Son, Jesus Christ. (cf 2 Thessalonians 1:11b-12)
I pray also for myself, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Father, may I declare it fearlessly, as I should. (cf Ephesians 6:19-20)
And may you open a door for the message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ, and may I proclaim it clearly, as I should. (cf Colossians 4:3-4)
Finally, Father, may the message of the Lord Jesus spread rapidly and be honoured, and may I be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. (cf 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)
Thank you, Father. I pray all these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Bible Reading
Whereas prayer is like breathing, Bible reading is like food. Whilst air sustains us, food helps us grow (note that in prayer we may also receive a 'word from God' to nourish us, but if it is from God the principle thereof will always be in line with what He has already revealed in the Bible). Through reading, hearing, or meditating on memorized portions, our minds are renewed in accordance with the truth, and we grow into Christ-likeness. The word of God is living and active, able to pierce even to the division of soul and spirit, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). For the word to have this effect it should not just be sought to be memorized but to be understood and practiced.

Importantly, since none of us can have an exhaustive knowledge of truth, it is always good to share with and learn from other Christians. Whilst the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and we need to pray also that He will unfold the truth to us (cf John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16), we need to have open hearts and minds to the insight of other genuine seekers of truth, and test all things, holding fast to the good (cf 1 Thessalonians 5:21). We need to be humble enough to submit our insights to the Christian community at large (whether asking them in person or through reading the books of others), not only to clarify our own thoughts, but also to safeguard us and others from heresy. As Paul advised Timothy "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16).

Praise and Worship
This is best the response of encountering the presence and love of God, or of Him revealing truth to you that excites you! But since all of life should be seen as a gift from God, and everything can seem marvelous to your new eyes, it is always appropriate to direct your thoughts and energies towards exalting God and telling Him how great He is! It will also often involve thanksgiving for all the great things He has done, not only for you but also for others. Remember, even the circumstances that seem bad to you are engineered by God! Praise reveals a spirit of gratitude, acknowledging that you yourself are not God, and giving God the glory He deserves. A proud person cannot praise God, and since God opposes the proud, cultivate a spirit of praise! Praise God any time. Praise Him alone. Praise Him together in the assembly of the saints. Praise Him amongst non-believers. Praise Him!

Witnessing for Christ
For people who are truly born-again, and especially as one grows in maturity in Christ, evangelizing and witnessing on the streets to people should become almost like second nature!  Telling others about Jesus and our faith is not something that we need to force.  The Bible describes witnessing as „sowing the good seed".  If I may make an analogy with human reproduction, it should be only natural that if you are in love with someone, seed will be sown.  Of course, not always will conception occur, but it can be guaranteed that without seed there won't be conception at all!  It is also the same with the Body of Christ.  Not everyone will come to faith and new birth when we tell about Jesus or hand out leaflets of hold open air meetings, but given the right timing and events, there is every possibility that people will become born again!

Finally, a great promise from Scripture about why we should share our faith: „I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."( Philemon 1:6, NIV)  Wow!  The more we share our faith, the more we grow in understanding Jesus and all that is ours in Christ!

[Or, if you follow the King James version, it states :"That the sharing of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus".  Whatever the case, witnessing or sharing your faith is encouraged!]

Fellowship
As already mentioned, spending time with each other, sharing our joys as well as our burdens, sorrows and weaknesses, with the purpose of building each other up, is a final key spiritual discipline.  However, there are many times where it may not be possible to meet with other fellow believers, especially in times of persecution.  It is in these times where we can really treasure our deep spiritual fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  Remember what He said: I am with you always even unto the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).