I've been reading a lot about spiritual disciplines lately. The topic seems to pop up no matter what book I am reading. I am also going through a book that specifically handles the topic: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney. It gives an excellent explanation of many areas I have not thought about very much, or that I have just handled loosely in my arrogance. I never really fasted, for example, or knew that fasting was a blessing of God to draw us nearer to him in times of great need and sorrow or of praise.

Probably the best discipline I've met is that of meditation on Scripture. Up 'til now I've been the sort who would read and try to understand, but then I'd let it slip away. Without long-term meditation or memorization, it is hard to retain one section of Bible long enough to relate it to another as the whole it truly is. Meditation provides great benefits.

For example, I memorized Psalms 1 a long time ago, and it has always been a great comfort for me: "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Lord, and on His law doth he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

And then, Isaiah 55 has become another section for frequent reference: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

Recently, John 15: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

Jesus is the river of water by which I, the tree, must be planted. If He is not, I will not bear fruit. Jesus is also the Word, the law.  ¶ 11:33 AM