The Importance of Spiritual Practices

Opinion

by Randy Schaffer, Author of soon-to-be-released children’s book A Dog Can Make a Difference (Working Title)

Here in the first post in a planned series concerning spiritual practices, I outline what they are, what they can entail, and why they’re essential for Christians seeking deeper connection to their faith.

What are spiritual practices, and why are they so important?

Looking at the recorded history of most faiths, we find that spiritual practices were deemed necessary. The word “spiritual” is derived from the Latin ‘spiritualitas,’ which means ‘the breath of life.’ So, over the ages, religious groups developed practices that would connect believers to the very breath of life or in other words draw them closer to the Divine One.

Scripture holds that the Ascension of Jesus, the promised Holy Spirit, touched those who were believers or disciples that followed Jesus. Through the power of the Spirit sent by God, these believers were able to create small communities of faith. In scripture, the book of Acts records the travels of some of the Apostles around the Mediterranean Sea. Their travels took them to Jerusalem, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome, to name a few places, to establish and encourage new Christian churches. Since so many people converted to the new faith, there was a need for disciplines or practices to assist them in growing in faith and understanding the ministry of Jesus and God as the Divine.

As new believers, they had received the God-given gifts of grace, unconditional love, forgiveness, and eternal life. In addition, there was much more for them to learn. Fortunately, Jesus modeled through his ministry some of the disciplines that the new Christians might focus on to grow spiritually and deepen their relationship with God. Seven such practices are recorded as being used frequently by Jesus. These practices were: prayer, fasting, public worship, solitude, silence, service, and meditation. Over time, theologians and scholars have developed additional practices that assist Christians in their quest to live Christ-like lives.

For 22 years, it was my privilege to serve on the staff of a United Methodist church as spiritual director. Some other responsibilities included organizing and facilitating retreats, planning worship services, and offering spiritual formation sessions for groups within my church and churches in our community. While studying to prepare as a spiritual director, my own devotional life was changed. Using spiritual practices that were new to me dramatically deepened my faith. When I began educating and offering spiritual sessions and retreats to others, using spiritual practices was always central to the theme. The practice of spiritual direction began in the early church as a process in which a trained spiritual guide listened to and accompanied someone who desired a deeper relationship with the Lord. It remains a meaningful practice commonly used in Christian churches today.