Today I write again about the challenge of being a spiritual man. Why is it is so challenging to keep a spiritual perspective with my eyes on Jesus in this life? I find first of all I become so busy with the demands of each day, and in fact some days are simply overwhelming. Then on those days where I do have time I have a gift for cluttering up my day with tasks that are either leisurely or are simply a waste of time.
Now don't get me wrong, I believe in leisure. I love my sports teams, and my hobbies but when they clutter up my free time then they also may be keeping me from intimacy with God.
Now don't get me wrong, I believe in leisure. I love my sports teams, and my hobbies but when they clutter up my free time then they also may be keeping me from intimacy with God.
The other problem I sometimes have is reducing my time with God to look a certain way or being on a sort of 'spiritual check list' that I will call my 'to dos' and my 'to don'ts'.
It is like I was taught years ago about the fruit of God's spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) being something we do rather that it describing who we should be. Those days when the fruit of God's spirit describe my spirit is when I believe I am living in the sweet spot of being a spiritual man.
So while prayer lists and scripture readings are important guides to our lives, they are not in themselves spiritual. The great value I do find in prayer lists and scripture reading is adding focus and minimizing my mind from drifting.
It is like I was taught years ago about the fruit of God's spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.) being something we do rather that it describing who we should be. Those days when the fruit of God's spirit describe my spirit is when I believe I am living in the sweet spot of being a spiritual man.
So while prayer lists and scripture readings are important guides to our lives, they are not in themselves spiritual. The great value I do find in prayer lists and scripture reading is adding focus and minimizing my mind from drifting.
The next piece I find critical in becoming a spiritual man is my personal physical disciplines. The scriptures teach my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.. so what I drink, eat, and when and how much I sleep are very important first of all to my physical health, but also to my spiritual being.
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