Mind, body, heart, or will? Which of these are the most important in spiritual development? If you picked all four, you are right. Over the last three weeks, I've written devotionals for churchproduction.com on the importance of prayer, worship, and working in the technical ministry. Today, let's turn to overall spiritual development.
Paul's writing to the church at Colosse starts with prayer and thanks to "God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (NIV). Next, he writes on the supremacy of the Son of God. And it's here your desire for continual spiritual development should be borne.
"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Col 1:15-17 (NIV).
Think of spiritual development as the process of maturing from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood. Or as one person put it, it's when the secular mind decreases and the sacred mind increases through a series of disciplines.
You can experience spiritual growth when you focus on four particular disciplines. These should be part of your daily routine and not considered as four-steps you only take once.
The Four Spiritual Disciplines
1. Preparation and Study
Spiritual maturity happens when you start praising during the hard times.
Consider preparation as self-assessment. You need to grasp what you believe and why you believe it. Take time each day and write a little of your own spiritual autobiography. Discover who you are, who God has made you into, and what areas of your spiritual life need maturing.
Study God's word daily. Immersing yourself in scripture on a regular basis will always benefit your life and be a blessing to you. Not only can you learn God's ways but He will also talk to your through His word.
For your team, hold a weekly or monthly bible study for your team. Lead it yourself or find another leader.
2. Prayer
Hundreds of books have been written on prayer and they all revolve around the same idea; God loves you, wants a relationship with you and prayer is your ability to connect with Him.
Some people use a method for praying, like the A.C.T.S. method (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication). For others, their prayers easily flow from within, without regard to any method or system. Prayer is also your time to hear from God. Some days, prayer isn't about speaking to God but opening yourself to His words. Spend time each day with God.
For your team, lead them in prayer before the sound check gets underway. During your regular bible study time, open it up to personal praises and prayer requests. Make prayer a team activity.
Celebrate your praises together.
3. Praise
Praise can happen through prayer, song, corporate worship, and any type of group or individual celebration of God's love and mercy and blessings. Spiritual maturity happens when you start praising during the hard times; “God, I praise you for being a loving comforter to me through this hard time.” Or even something as simple as praising God for a glorious sunset after a hard day.
For your team, celebrate your praises together. As the technical leader, lift up praise to the Lord in prayer or simply spoken words for the times when you've seen Him moving wonderfully through the service.
4. Profession and Confession
A problem with sin is the desire to deny it or justify it. Confession and profession get you beyond that stage. Confession is the process of acknowledging your sins and seeking forgiveness, with the idea you will not commit that sin again. With confession, you say “I was wrong.” Profession is the acknowledgement that God is right in His wisdom and judgment and your only hope is in Him. Therefore, honestly acknowledge all of your sins, confessing them to Him and then professing that He is right and wise and your hope rests in him.
For your team, be available for everyone on your team. Help those struggling with sin and turn them to acknowledging the greatness of a God who can heal, nurture, comfort, and help all who come to Him.
In summary, you and I should be ever-striving to be like Christ and be in regular relationship with our awesome Lord and Creator. Spiritual development is much like learning methods for technical production; you never stop. This means you must actively pursue spiritual development every day of your life.
