Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster

[Amanah]

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
HarperCollins, 1978, 1988, 1998
Foster, Richard J.

Some thoughts from Foster's book:

Spiritual Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us . . . Spiritual Disciplines are a way of sowing to the Spirit . . . It is a path of discipined grace, grace because it is free, but disciplined because there is something for us to do.

In the Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer makes it clear that grace is free, but it is not cheap.

The disciplines according to Foster:

Meditation
Prayer
Fasting
Study
Simplicity
Solitude
Submission
Service
Confession
Worship
Guidance
Celebration

In this little blog, I'm going to summarize Foster's book, and add thoughts from other books that support his ideas. Ive read his book several times and I find that when I practice spiritual disciplines, I'm able to grow closer to God and be more in touch with his presence.

I believe when we change our habits we make more room in our lives for God to work. For instance, If i decide that I'm going to spend time in prayer and bible reading every day, I have to give up another activity that I would be doing in that time. I have to give up some of the time I would have spent watching tv, or playing on my computer.

I think making room for God in our lives is how we open ourselves up for him to change us and through us impact our world.