Spiritual Disciplines: Building a Life That’s Rooted

Have you ever felt spiritually busy but still disconnected from God?

You’re doing the devotionals, showing up to serve, and listening to all the sermons, but deep down, something still feels off. You’re moving but you’re not grounded. I know the feeling well.

It’s possible to be involved in the things of God and still miss the presence of God. That’s why spiritual disciplines matter. They aren’t just practices to help you become more “productive” in your faith. They are the very rhythms that bring us back to the feet of Jesus again and again.

The Danger of Busyness

When Jesus came to visit the home of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, both women were doing something. But only one was doing the better thing. Mary sat at His feet, while Martha served with good intentions but a distracted heart. Martha wasn’t wrong for working. She was wrong for letting the work steal her attention from the One who mattered most in that moment.

Sometimes we confuse movement for maturity, but spiritual growth is not always loud or visible. Instead, it happens in the still places, where you choose to be with God when you could be doing busy things for Him.

Frustration can be a signal that your priorities need realignment. God is not calling you to hustle your way into holiness. He’s calling you to be with Him.

What Are the Spiritual Disciplines?

Spiritual disciplines are intentional rhythms and practices that help you stay connected to God. These disciplines aren’t new. They’re ancient, biblical, and proven to transform your daily life when practiced consistently.

If anyone could have bypassed the need for daily spiritual rhythms, it was Jesus. Yet, throughout the Gospels, we see Him intentionally practicing the very things we struggle to make time for.

1. Prayer

Jesus didn’t just teach about prayer. He lived it. Scripture tells us He often withdrew to lonely places to pray, especially after ministering to large crowds (Luke 5:16). In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see a prayer life that is honest, surrendered, and intimate. Jesus poured out His anguish to the Father, not hiding His emotions, but yielding to His will.

If Jesus needed to stay in constant communion with the Father, how much more do we? Prayer isn’t just how we talk to God – it’s how we stay aligned with His heart, His will, and His peace.

Want to pray more intentionally? These articles will help.

2. Bible Study

From His earliest years, Jesus was immersed in Scripture. At twelve, He was found in the temple, impressing teachers with His understanding (Luke 2:46-47). When He was tempted in the wilderness, He responded not with opinion, but with the Word (Matthew 4). His knowledge of Scripture wasn’t just for theological debates with Pharisees. It was how He overcame spiritual warfare in the wilderness. Jesus shows us that studying the Word isn’t optional – it’s essential.

Want to read the Bible more intentionally? These articles will help.

3. Fasting

Before launching into public ministry, Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-2). Though that season would have been physically taxing and spiritually intense, it prepared Him for what was to come. Fasting was how He strengthened His desire to do the Father’s will. Jesus also taught about fasting with sincerity to His disciples in Matthew 6:16-18.

For us, fasting isn’t just about giving something up. It’s about making room for God’s will in our lives. It’s a practice of humility, dependence, and sharpening our spiritual discernment. Jesus fasted to align His flesh with the Father’s assignment. We need to do the same.

You can learn more about fasting here: What Is Fasting in the Bible? (Christian Fasting Explained)

4. Rest

Jesus modeled rest as a holy rhythm. Even with crowds following Him and needs surrounding Him, He made time to step away (Mark 6:31). Sleeping during storms and choosing solitude over applause, rest was a way for Jesus to remain in step with the Father. If Jesus, who had every reason to keep going, chose rest, so should we. Rest isn’t weakness. It’s worship. It’s an act of trust that says, “God, I don’t have to hold everything together because You already do.”

Struggling with rest? This article will help: What Does the Bible Say About Self-Care? (A Christian Perspective)

The Goal is Consistency, Not Perfection

One of the biggest barriers to spiritual discipline is the belief that it has to look a certain way. Maybe you think if you’re not praying for an hour, fasting weekly, or journaling profound revelations, it doesn’t count. Let me be the one to tell you that it does.

Faithfulness is what matters. Five minutes of focused, surrendered prayer can carry more power than an hour of distracted routine. Don’t compare your walk to anyone else’s. Strive to live faithfully in the season that God has you in.

How Do You Start?

Start with honesty. Where are you spiritually dry? Where have you been depending on routine more than relationship? Then, start small and start now.

An easy way to start is to find your SLOT and your SPOT. To find your slot, open your calendar and block off a time each day to meet with God. Write it in like you would any other non-negotiable appointment. Next, find your SPOT – a quiet place where you can read Scripture, pray, and listen, even if just for ten minutes.

If you’ve never fasted, try skipping one meal and spending that time asking God for clarity or breakthrough. If you don’t have spiritual community, begin praying for one. Text a friend who loves Jesus and ask if she wants to study the Bible with you once a week.

Give yourself permission to not be perfect. If you miss a day, come back the next. If you get distracted, refocus. And when it feels like nothing is happening, stay the course.

Final Encouragement

You don’t need a spiritual to-do list, but you do need a daily touchpoint with God. Spiritual disciplines keep you rooted when life feels shaky and you feel like you’re on autopilot. They help you hear God’s voice more clearly, love others more deeply, and walk in purpose more fully.

If you’ve been caught in the cycle of doing for God without being with God, it’s not too late to get back on track. Jesus is still inviting you to choose what’s better.

Ashtyn Washington is an author, speaker, writer, and podcast host. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is passionate about making the Word applicable and accessible to women at all ages and stages.