Discipline

“Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” Ps 50:16

Although discipline can be overrated as a spiritual practice, it can just as easily be underrated. Without the discipline of daily prayer and reflection, it is very difficult to trust oneself or God. Imagine what would happen to an athlete who worked at her craft once a week. No matter how hard she worked, she would not be able to compete at a high level if she only worked at her sport once a week.

It is a good practice to examine our spiritual habits from time to time, and either renew or change them as the situation demands. If we find ourselves praying the rosary each day, but without much focus, we should consider changing, either by finding an aid that helps us pray the rosary more intentionally, or letting go of the rosary for a while in order not to take Mary's intercession for granted. The same lens might be used with any prayer that has become something we do solely by rote.

Without discipline our spiritual lives will weaken over time. Only when we make time for God and God's work can we be sure that we are serious about knowing God more intimately and serving God more generously.

Today, make an inventory of your spiritual practices.

What spiritual practices have been most helpful to you to living your faith?