On Monday, I was journaling about our Sunday meeting, and the Lord began to speak to me about spiritual disciplines.
Paul – Lord, someone mentioned yesterday that journaling is a way of connecting with You. It really is another means of tuning our heart to the frequency of heaven. I don’t know why I can’t consistently take the time to journal.
Lord – I’ll tell you why. As you mentioned yesterday, there is a lot of noise and distractions that keep you apart from me. That’s why developing godly disciplines are so important, especially in the hour you are now living. Disciplines are not just good habits; godly disciplines are the foundation footers of your faith. They keep you from wandering off the narrow path. Godly disciplines are the anchor of your soul. They keep your soul in line and submitted to Me. That’s why it is so important to develop godly disciplines in your life.
Prayer, worship, and reading the Word are not meant for Me; they’re meant for you. When you feel dry, you are dry. But if you examine your life during those times of dryness, you’ll find that your disciplines have fallen to the wayside.
In times of drought you have two options: Dig a well or pray for rain. In the natural, men will choose to dig a well. It doesn’t take a lot of faith to dig a well, just a lot of hard work. But in the spirit, digging a well requires more faith than simply praying a prayer. Digging a well takes hard work, persistence, and a determination to seek Me, above all else. Digging a well takes time; it requires the daily disciplines of reading and studying the Word, reflecting and meditating on My promises, heart felt worship, and the cry of the soul – where deep calls unto deep.
Today, many have ignored the disciplines of the Christian faith. Instead they live from experience to experience, hoping to draw upon the adrenaline of the Spirit. In the days ahead that will not work. I am about to dry up the surface streams. No longer will you find water flowing on the ground. You are coming into a season of drought. You will have to dig for yourself to find the rivers of living water. They are there, stronger and more powerful than what is on the surface, but you will have to dig to tap into the river of life. Those who have not learned to dig wells will find themselves cut off from the river of life. That’s not My will for any of my kids – for I love My children with an everlasting love.
The disciplines of life are needed to build a strong foundation. Those who lack spiritual disciplines will bounce from pillar to post – trying desperately to satisfy the longing in their heart. Eating regurgitated bread is just baby food. It’s line upon line, precept upon precept that builds a strong foundation. Have you ever considered the building of a sky scraper? The foundation is the most important part. A great deal of time is devoted to laying the foundation. Once the building is complete, the foundation is hidden. Yet, it’s the foundation that keeps the building erect. Without that foundation the building will not stand the test of time.
So it is with the disciplines of faith. (The Lord then directed me to Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”)
But here’s the thing Paul, the disciplines of the Christian faith never cease. Why? Because unlike the foundation of a building made of brick and mortar, the foundation of the Christian life is built on living stones. I have called you to be a living stone. (I Peter 2:5 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”) It’s the spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing. It’s My Spirit that gives life to your mortal being…the living stone.
