The Best Spiritual Exercise Ever!

Spiritual disciplines have existed for centuries. In Christianity, they have been around since the inception of the church. Because the Christian faith finds its foundation in Jewish roots, we can even acknowledge the spiritual practices of the Jewish faith. Let’s just say, prayer, praise, and meditation have been around a long time.

Practices of faith draw us closer to God. We say it strengthens our faith, but what we really mean is that it strengthens our connection to God. Spiritual disciplines and exercises build our relationship with God.

But there are so many things you can do. You can pray. You can sing songs. Reading scripture is good. Meditation is an ancient but great tool. Denominations publish daily devotions. There are even phone apps that deliver a Word of God notification. I have even seen apps that will lead you through a complete devotion or reflection, meditation, song, and prayer. Just about every method is available for you to use today.

The question is, “Which spiritual exercise is the best to use?”

The best spiritual exercise is the one that you will do.

Listen, there is no need to download a read-the-bible-in-a-year program if you know you will not commit the time to complete it. Sure, there is room for growth and expanding your commitment to God. But if you will not read it, and you know yourself well enough to know you are not going to read it, then that spiritual discipline is not the best one for you. You would be better off getting an app that sends you a one verse notification, especially if you are a person who is on your phone all day.

Look, if you will not spend 90 minutes a day reading a study guide, scripture, and answering reflection questions, then taking part in a discipleship program that requires that probably won’t work for you. It doesn’t matter how many people try to pressure you to join the study, if you know you will not do it, then that spiritual exercise isn’t best for you. You would be better off joining a group that is doing a study that requires much less time.

Most spiritual exercises are excellent, especially those practiced throughout the centuries of the church. But not every spiritual exercise is right for everyone.

I knew a farmer who didn’t do small-groups. He didn’t go to Sunday School. He didn’t read daily devotionals. He read one chapter of his Bible every night before he went to bed and he went to worship services every Sunday. But his favorite spiritual exercise occurred when he was working on his farm. It was a joy to listen to him talk about how God is seen in nature. From the cattle to the crops, to the gentle breeze in the air, this man saw God and could articulate it in the most beautiful manner.

I also knew a woman who was blind. She couldn’t read brail. She had never been taught how. No chance she was reading anything in a year. But wow, she could pray! Oh my, one of the most wonderful persons of prayer I ever heard.

I recently met a woman that had an incredible voice that she used to glorify God. Ask her to spend thirty minutes in traditional prayer. She would fall asleep. Oh, and by the way, don’t ask her to pray in public. Chirp. Chirp. Crickets are all you will hear. She turns to petrified wood. But hand her a microphone. Ask her to play the piano. Amazing. I’ve gotten chills watching her weep as she glorified God with the piano. Her best spiritual exercise is playing the piano to God.

This is the point. The best spiritual exercise for you is the one you will do. Do whatever you enjoy. Sure, if you choose to do something you have never done before, or struggled with, give it a shot. But don’t beat yourself up if you find out it’s not the one for you.

I’m convinced that the best spiritual exercise is the one the Holy Spirit has gifted you with doing. The Bible teaches we each have a spiritual gift. I suggest that is where you start. Look at your gift. I suspect your gift is what you enjoy most. Do that first.

Here’s the deal: There is nothing in the Bible that says you must do a particular spiritual exercise. There are, however, scriptural teachings that you should use your spiritual gift.

Find your gift if you don’t know it. If you know it, embrace it. Use it as much as you can.