Spiritual Discipline Research Paper

Spiritual disciplines are habits or behaviors that a Christian person adopts or modifies in order to guard his or her spiritual well-being or the conscience of those he or she loves. The definition of discipline is "training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior." Discipline is not a part of the sin nature and depravity of man but it is an important, natural component of the Christian life. Nothing of any significance in a persons life is ever accomplished without discipline. Spiritual disciplines could be described as those behaviors that increase peoples spiritual growth. Spiritual disciplines could also be described as those behaviors that enable them to grow spiritual maturity. When a person comes to Jesus Christ

People have the freedom to choose what they place into their minds therefore memorization is vital. If Christians truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God, how could they not memorize it? When Christians fill their minds with God's words by memorizing Scripture, they utilize and employ themselves to be the most powerful spiritual tool there is. The Word of God is the believer's only true formidable weapon against sin. Scripture is a strong influence for righteous living and godliness. Jesus used Scripture to fend off attacks of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11) so Christians must be able to use the same weapon. Memorization allows believers to react to life's circumstances according to its precepts because memorizing the Word of God enables them to keep it constantly in the forefront of their minds. By memorizing Scripture, believers can renew their minds so that they are no longer influenced by the thinking that conforms them to the world (Romans 12:1-2). A privilege and responsibility of every Christian is memorizing Scripture. Joshua 1:8 is one of the most powerful passages in Scripture regarding the necessity and importance of memorization. Believers can pray more effectively and meditate on God's word through the discipline of

A Christian's prayers are essential because they are a spiritual communion with God through means of adoration, confession, petition, supplication, and thanksgiving. For Christian's, prayer is supposed to be like breathing; something that is easier to do than not to do. Christian's pray for a variety of reasons. The first reason is that prayer is a form of serving God and a form of obedience (Luke 2:36-38). The second reason for prayer is that God commands believers to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). In Mark 1:35 and Acts 1:14, 2:42, 3:1, 4:23-31, 6:4, 13:1-3, prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church. Prayer is a great and wonderful thing because God can meet believers where they are. God comes alongside believers to lead them into a deeper, more real relationship with Him that is not motivated by guilt but driven by His love for them. Prayer changes Christians, other peoples lives, and history. When believers know God, they want to conform to Jesus and His will for their lives. God slowly and graciously reveals himself to Christian's when they pray. It is during those moments when believers can deeply understand and experience His love. Because of disciplined prayer, one of the major outcomes can be answered prayer. However answered prayer is secondary when it comes to the real purpose of prayer which is an ever-growing, unending communion with