Thursday, July 20, 2017 Going Deeper: Disciplines for Ordinary People From Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Going Deeper: Disciplines for Ordinary People
From Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster

Scripture:
Psalm 42:1-2
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?

Devotional:
I think it is time, sweet friends. It is time to go deeper. As I began this interest in revisiting the Disciplines, I felt myself splashing in the shallows, but with a pull to go in and swim. Join me as I read through Celebration of Discipline, and give God time to instill these joys in our hearts. One of the most important points made by Pastor Foster is that many of us are afraid to dig into the deeper spiritual life, fearing that the Disciplines are for “spiritual giants.” However, as he so well states, God is pulling us—perfectly ordinary people with ordinary lives, and callings like parenting and marketplace vocation, to go deeper. To shine brighter, because we are taking time to practice these disciplines.

Prayer:
Father, I pray that you would grant me the courage to go deeper. Plant deeply the longing for You, the desire to foster disciplines in my life that would grow a rich and vibrant walk of faith.

Intercession:
Lift up praises, concerns, and needs. Make note in your journal as God is working and prompting you for new needs.

I lift this season to You and embrace the deep places. I ask that our ordinary family would be made extraordinary as we walk and live in this reality.

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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