Spiritual Discipline vs. Spiritual Peace

Always have both. I've recently decided that I want to grow closer to God and deepen my relationship with him, so that's what I've been doing. Something I realized, which I was a little surprised about, was how much more I enjoy it the more I do it. Having a friend to help me along the way was a bonus, and I am extremely grateful for her. I used to think that just going to church and praying was all I needed to do to be close to God. Even though those are good things, it's not what following him looks like. When I heard that I should start following him, I thought it was going to be this whole process of faithful things that I would

never be able to do; turns out it's the complete opposite. I bought a bible and have been reading it, started going to worship groups on my campus, and continue to pray and go to church. Through this blog, I hope to help you figure out more about God and possibly want to grow your relationship to.

Spiritual discipline is like having structured faith practices. Maybe it's reading the bible for 20 minutes a day or going to a bible study every week, but no matter what, you should stick to that. It's like working out; if you can stay disciplined in the gym, then you can to God as well. Having this discipline will help you gain consistency, strengthen your faith, and create time for God.

Spiritual peace is more about your inner closeness with God. It's more gentle, providing you with emotional rest, comfort, and trust. It's less about routine and more about the relationship. Some ways to stay spiritual while creating peace would be to sit in nature, crying in a prayer, or just worshipping spontaneously.

Here's where the conflict comes in, and by noticing it now, we can help get rid of it sooner. You want to make sure you're not only having spiritual discipline. This would consist of doing this out of guilt, having faith become a performance, or you feel obligated, not connected. Do not let this turn into homework or religious pressure. Discipline will only fill your schedule, while peace is what will fill your spirit. Just take some time to reflect on these or other actions of spiritual discipline that you might be experiencing. Many signs show you are experiencing only spiritual discipline, and these include:

• Rushing through a prayer

• You feel guilty if you miss a day

• Devotionals feel forced

• You feel spiritually exhausted

• You measure faith by productivity

Discipline still matters, though, it's just not ALL that matters. It keeps you grounded, builds faith

during slow seasons, shows commitment, and creates the space for peace to enter; you have to let it. Think of discipline as what lets God in, and peace is what lets you rest with him.

With that, here are some things to do that give you that spiritual peace:

• Pray honestly, not perfectly

• Spend time with God outside of your routines

• Worship freely

• Sit in silence

• Slow down

• Let go of performance

Trust me, God is not that picky. He will forgive you if you miss a day or bible study. As long as you're actively trying to grow your relationship with him, he loves that. Having good spiritual health is just as important as any other aspect of health. The goal is not to do more for God, but to be more with him. <3

~ Revelation 1:5 ~