Spiritual Disciplines in the Bible: Train Yourself Like an Athlete

A gangly, uncoordinated middle schooler, I longed to earn a spot as one of the five main basketball players on the team.  The summer before entering ninth grade, I spent hours practicing drills and shooting free throws. Those efforts paid off months later when the coach called my name in the first game of the season. 

Spiritual disciplines, common to Christians for centuries, are a lot like athletic training. Scripture even uses the metaphor of an athlete to explain the value of practicing the disciplines of the faith. Consider 1 Timothy 4:7b-8:

“…train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Why Do We Need Spiritual Discipline?

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines discipline as “the ability to make yourself do something, even if it is difficult, so that you can achieve a goal.”

Training is never easy… Driver’s training. Potty training. Spiritual training.

Why pursue the disciplines of faith if they prove difficult? Why deny oneself the short-lived pleasure of unholy desires?

Because Christ’s sacrifice, the sure exchange of our sins for His grace, transforms our hearts in such a way that we yearn to spend time in His presence. To become more like Him. To pursue a life that reflects the inner change gifted to us through salvation. 

Does God sanctify us? Yes. At the same time, we are meant to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:13) And that working out entails spiritual discipline. Dedication. Hard-fought change that glorifies the Lord and impacts the lives of our husbands, children, extended family, and friends.

What are the Spiritual Disciplines in the Bible?

An overview of Scripture identifies Christianity’s spiritual disciplines and provides direction about how we should—or should not—engage in them. While not all-encompassing, the spiritual disciplines include prayer, fasting, meditation, worship, and reading the Word.

1. Prayer

• And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. (Matthew 6:5-7)
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
• May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)

2. Fasting

• When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting… (Matthew 6:16-17)
• So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (Acts 13:3)
• Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1-2)

3. Meditation

• Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)
• But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:2) 
• Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (Deuteronomy 11:18)

4. Worship

• Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe… (Hebrews 12:28)
• God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:24)
• Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1) 

5. Reading the Bible

• For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
• I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
• Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (Psalm 119:18)

If you want to dive deeper into other spiritual disciplines, consider reading verses about confession, fellowship, service, and Sabbath rest.

How to Practice the Spiritual Disciplines

Jesus’ life provides a template for our lives. Prayer and fasting. Bible study and meditation. Worship and fellowship. Each lightens our load by providing insight and wisdom during a season of life filled with responsibility. 

How does a mama immersed in the demands of diapers and to-do lists grow in faith?

1. Start Small

During the early years of motherhood, I managed the home front while my husband, a soldier in the military, spent months at sea. He pursued the enemy while I doctored fevers, ate cold mac and cheese off the baby’s high chair tray, and sang lullabies (huddled in the closet) as hurricanes throttled the coast. Personal time was almost non-existent, but I found solace and soul-rest in brief moments while my little ones napped. 

Board books were scattered on the floor and dishes needed washing, but I know the Lord met with me in those margins of time. He’ll meet with you, too—whether you set aside fifteen minutes to listen to Scripture on your favorite Bible app or journal your prayers during soccer practice.

2. Be Consistent

Faith, like a muscle, atrophies without exercise. 

I struggled with fibromyalgia for more than seven years. During its height, I could walk no more than forty-five minutes each day. If I neglected my exercise regimen for two days, I started over. One minute per day until I finally reached the goal.

Over time, I noticed significant changes. My thin body looked frail—not fit. I struggled even to open the lid on a jar. But the beauty that resulted from days of chronic pain? A stronger faith rooted in His goodness. Confined to bed for hours, those days presented an opportunity for times of unmatched worship and prayer. 

Practice the spiritual disciplines as time allows. Embed them into your routine. The regular, frequent exercise of your faith will make a difference. 

3. Have the Right Perspective

The Pharisees—the uber-religious leaders of Jesus’ day—engaged in spiritual disciplines, too. They followed even the man-made laws designed to lead to holy living.  But their hard work led them away from God’s heart to a place of pride. One that sought man’s approval rather than that of the Lord.

My grandparents believed their charitable works and clean living set them apart. Moral people, they were well respected in the community. But misguided spirituality with a focus on self fails to draw us closer to Christ.

Author Kent Hughes writes, “The legalistic heart says, ‘I will do this thing to gain merit with God.’ The disciplined heart says, ‘I will do this thing because I love God and want to please Him.’

We engage in spiritual disciplines to express our love and thanks to Him—not to gain the favor we already enjoy.

Seven Simple Ways to Incorporate Spiritual Disciplines

1. Stroll and Pray Grab the kids and the stroller. Go it alone or invite a couple of other moms to join you. Get your steps in as you pray.
2. Bedtime Devotions Purchase one or two different children’s Bibles and share the stories with your child as part of the bedtime routine. Read the same story or chapter from your Bible.
3. Praise Time Stream your favorite worship music and invite your family to sing along.
4. Note-card Meditation Record one Bible verse on three or four note-cards or sticky notes. Place each card in a different area of your house (i.e. the bathroom mirror, refrigerator, etc.) Each time you pass by the card, recite it aloud. Soon, you’ll have memorized and reflected on several verses.
5. An App a Night Fall asleep to the words of Scripture. Download an app or locate another peaceful reading of the Bible and listen to God’s word as you drift to sleep.
6. Fellowship and Fun Join a mom’s group at a local church. Many cities host daytime and evening groups to accommodate a busy schedule. And, childcare is free or low-cost.
7. Book Club Why not host a faith-focused book club? Invite a few friends over for a monthly Bible study or book discussion. 

Though the phrase “spiritual disciplines” sounds lofty, we only need to mimic the traditions of Scripture. Exercise patterns of faith recorded in the Bible. When we do? We’ll enjoy the blessing of far more than a position on a winning team. We’ll experience a closer relationship with the Lord.