spiritual disciplines

Grace, Effort, Earning, and Spiritual Disciplines

Dallas Willard talks about the relationship between grace and spiritual disciplines. What a rich 5 minute discussion! If you make it at least to the 2:15 mark, you’ll hear this insightful, freeing nugget: Grace is not opposed to effort; it’s opposed to earning. Effort is action.  Earning is attitude. Something to ponder for awhile!  

Read more →

Wondering What To Give Up for Lent?

As I explained in a previous post, this lenten season for me is all about giving up and taking on …  so, let me offer a thought on what to give up for Lent. Maggi Dawn, in her new Lent devotional, gives some insight into the history of “giving it up” during this season:  “There’s [...]

Read more →

Preparing for Lent: Renewal and Rest

Giving up and taking on … these two phrases reflect my approach to Lent this year.  First, I will identify things in my life to “give up” – things in which I’ve (mis)placed my dependence and trust.  Second, I will identify a couple of spiritual practices to “take on” – practices that will increase my [...]

Read more →

A New Way of Thinking About Spiritual Disciplines

There is a destructive cycle of spirituality where we begin with “doing,” or self-effort.  Then we link our sense of significance with our achievements.  I wrote about this in a post called, “Cycle of Grace.”  Here is one of the illustrations from that post: We have a choice in our lives.  We can begin with [...]

Read more →

Cycle of Grace

A common approach to life is the cycle from “work” to “significance” to “success” to (the hope for) “acceptance.”  Something like this: The key is that, for many of us, the cycle begins in the “work” quadrant.  We feel the intense need to achieve in life.  Our identity is, all too often, based on what [...]

Read more →