Why do we, as Children of God, feel we must pray more, meditate more, get more mentors, be involved in more and more ministries or bible studies in order to become closer to God? Or to become more Christ-like? A better Christian?

Are the Spiritual Disciplines really legalistic? Hmmm....I think not!

It boils down to motivation and attitude. We, as flawed human beings, can turn anything good and righteous into something legalistic. Man, why do we do stuff like this? Well...I think it's because we forget about Grace. We continually forget that there was nothing and is nothing we can do to attain salvation. We must remember this even as Christians. Engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines is great if we are doing it with the right attitude.

If we rest in God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to bear fruit, we will bear righteous and good fruit. The 'works' which will come out of us will be good. We have it completely wrong and backwards if we think we must do 'works' in order to become good.

So, if we are resting in God, we will be motivated to engage in the spiritual disciplines, because they are a joy and a benefit to be engaged in. We must remember that every good thing comes from God, and since Christ is in us, what comes out of us will be good. So, if we are to pray more or meditate more, it will be because it is a joy and a blessing to do so.

Works come out of who we are in Christ!

Blessings,

Aaron