Creating Space For God With Spiritual Disciplines

What are the classical spiritual disciplines and why should we practise them? I’ve been dabbling in them for the last six or seven months. These were mostly new to me. Most of the churches I’ve attended have promoted study, prayer/quiet time with God, but there’s a lot more to the classical spiritual disciplines as practised by the aesthetics, by monks, by old dead guys like Wesley, Lawrence, Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, etc.

It's easy to read the old dead guys' spiritual discipline of getting up at 3am to read and pray, or fast for a month at a time, wear horsehair tunics, sleeping in drafty beehive stone huts on a blustery remote Irish island, and think that's the only way to do it. That whatever way it seemed they punished/deprived themselves, is the spiritual discipline. It's really not. However, there is something to their daily practice of steeping themselves in God’s Word, in His presence, and in discerning the Holy Spirit worth emulating.

One way to simplify what they were doing is to say they created space for God to show up. By removing pleasure, distraction, comfort – they were creating a space in their day, in their hearts, for God to fill in whatever way He saw fit. And that discipline of creating space is a really difficult thing to do consistently.

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada (all photos mine)

Being Intentional

Ever made a decision to eat better? Get in better physical shape? Quit some habit that isn’t serving you? I recently began rucking – the practice of wearing a heavy backpack and hiking long distances. It’s been just over a month, so I’m still pretty new at it, and honestly I don’t see any improvement so far. I haven’t lost any weight. I don’t feel any stronger.

But, I am convinced that with consistency over time, that will change. I will be able to carry more weight over longer distances which will lead to stronger core and other muscles which will lead to better overall fitness.

That same mentality applies to the spiritual disciplines. You might have to practise them for a while before you see the fruits of your efforts.

I began with a goal of 10mins a day in silence (no distractions, actively preventing my mind from wandering), and practically that’s looked more like 10mins a day once or twice a week. But, it’s a muscle I’m exercising. And, you know – nothing happens. I spend those 10min in silence, and nothing earth-shattering happens. I don’t audibly hear this voice from heaven directing my day or my plans.

But, I have grown more comfortable with silence. I fill my day with distraction, with noise, purposely to avoid being alone with my thoughts, my memories. As a trauma survivor, my mind left to its own devices tends to camp out in places from the past that hijack my day or week or month. However, silence isn’t frightening anymore and even more surprising, I’ve begun craving it.

I’ve also spent some time learning about meditation, as the old dead guys practiced it. As monks practiced it. And I’ve been working on that. Again, ten minutes at a time, once a week, or once every two weeks. Not a major time commitment and I don’t let myself feel guilty for not doing it more often, but it’s getting easier, it’s coming to mind more often. And as I’m entering into a season of (hopefully) prolonged peace and mental/emotional stability, I plan to practice daily.

It’s a discipline. I’m showing up. I’m putting in the time.

Let’s Be Honest

The point these old dead guys were making by sharing their spiritual disciplines (I don’t think) was to create a bar for everyone else to hold themselves accountable to, but we have to start somewhere. So start small.

And you know what, I've noticed my discernment is a bit sharper. My sensitivity to the Spirit and the things of God is honing. The disciplines are becoming easier. My hunger for those disciplines is growing. The level of intimacy I enjoy with God is greater. Intangibles, perhaps, but meaningful.

Ptarmigan in Iceland

But How Do You Practice Spiritual Disciplines?

So, here’s a basic idea of the actual practices I started with. Maybe these will help you get started, or lead to an idea that works even better for you. Because sure, spiritual disciplines are a great idea, but HOW do you do that? WHAT do you do, exactly? I haven’t gotten to all of the spiritual disciplines, so there may be others that will resonate more deeply with me, but as someone who scores so highly on the introversion scale I could probably live in a cave and not speak to another person for a month at a time if I have books, these are where I began.

Silence

Find a chair that’s comfortable, but not cozy. I have a small wood chair that’s padded in my living room where I sit. I can sit there for a half hour at a time or maybe a bit more without getting sore, but I’m definitely not going to fall asleep there. Sit with your back straight, feet flat on the floor. Turn off all distractions. No music. No phone notifications. No multi-tasking. I take off my smart watch so there’s no buzzing to distract me of an incoming call, or even to take notice of the time. I set an alarm for ten minutes.

I close my eyes, focus on breathing, and just sit. The first few times, ten minutes felt like an eternity. Now, ten minutes flies by and I wish I’d set the timer for longer.

“If you create a space, I believe God will show up and fill it.” Marty Solomon

Just Show Up!

Prayer

I sit at my kitchen table. The photos of my kids and their spouses hang right there. Again, I turn off all distractions, all noise. And I begin by thanking God for all the things around me. For all the blessings I have. Then I pray for every person or concern or worry that comes to mind. I just have this running conversation with God where I focus on being transparent and honest and vulnerable. And at some point, I run out of things. And then there’s peace.

Now, I’m an empty nester so finding quiet uninterrupted time isn’t that hard. Forcing myself to remove all distractions and just be still is more of the challenge. So what if you have young kids in the house? Or you work outside the home? So what. Everyone has ten minutes.

I used to lock myself in the bathroom to do devotions. Because even if my kiddos sat on the other side of the door calling for me, pounding on the door, I knew exactly where they were and what they were doing, and I would take ten minutes just to commune with God. I would take them outside into a safe place, like an enclosed yard, and just sit with my eyes closed. Of course you’ll have one ear tuned to listen for squabbles or mischief, but that time isn’t wasted. The point is, be creative. How you practise these disciplines, where you practise them, doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

Bighorn Sheep, Alberta Canada

Study

There’s lots to be said for memorizing Scripture, and honestly I should work on that. Where I tend to land is deep dives into one particular story (as reflected by the studies I’m posting here). The blogging helps me articulate what I’ve learned, what I can apply to my daily life instead of just hoarding facts and knowledge.

I’ve posted links to a Youtube video below, there’s lots of great ideas for study there.

Meditation

This is an intentional time of communing with God. It’s not about emptying your mind, or breathing, or stretching. The church I’m attending offered a simple exercise I’ve found helpful. I sit in that same wood padded chair with my eyes closed. All distractions silenced. I lay my palms flat on top of my thighs, and in prayer I commit to God all the things I’m concerned about, I’m worrying over, outcomes I can’t predict, the problems I have no solution for.

Then, flip your hands over so the backs of your hands are on top of your thighs and your palms are facing the ceiling. Now, thank God for all the things that you do have, for the blessings in your life, the support you have, the comfort you’ve found, the relationships that have brought solace and joy.

And then continue on with your day.

Retreat

I have a hard time with this one, escaping for a weekend or a week isn't going to work, but I love to hike. We recently moved to an area of great natural beauty, low population, and an abundance of hiking trails. It’s quite easy to find a trail and be alone on it. So, I hike. I talk to God. I breathe in nature. I relinquish to God what is weighing me down. A friend takes one week a year (sometimes more) and solo camps in the wilderness. If this spiritual discipline interests you, there’s a way to do it. Maybe it looks like one afternoon spent in your car in the back of a parking lot?

When it warms up (there’s snow everywhere as I’m writing this), I’m hoping to find a secluded spot and pitch a tent (my friends, we have bugs – A LOT of bugs - losing a pint of blood to mosquitos is not a distraction free time) and spend four or six hours there. And do nothing. No books. No notepads. No music or phone. Just sit and be still. Those who practice this, say God shows up. Maybe not until the sixth or seventh hour, but He shows up.

Jesus often went off into a desolate place, a secluded place, a wilderness, to be with God. There’s something to removing yourself from daily distractions and concerns, from being silent and still, that God honours.

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, British Columbia Canada

What Are The Spiritual Disciplines?

I’ve been reading two books on this topic. One is Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster and it’s from this book that I’ve taken the list below from. I’m also reading Invitation To A Journey by Robert Mulholland Jr. I highly recommend both.

The List:

• meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, celebration.

Mulhulland talks about how some of these disciplines are going to be easier than others given your particular gifting or personality preferences. I have started with these four because those are the ones that appealed to me. But, there’s benefit in exercising those spiritual muscles that are weaker or not your preference. Worship is hard for me, celebration is hard, submission – don’t even get me started. But we don’t have to start with the hard ones. Create a sustainable consistent practice, then lean into what’s harder.

Not everyone loves reading, or even learns best reading. So, here’s a couple of options if you’re more of a visual or auditory learner.

Marty Solomon posted a Youtube video about 5 years ago about his daily discipline habits. This is intense. Remember, he’s a full-time teacher so making time for these disciplines is part of his work day, but also, notice how he focuses on just a few. He’s not packing every spiritual discipline into his day.

Rather than beat yourself up, instead, see if there’s one thing he does that you could incorporate. Maybe you can’t commit to doing it every day, maybe you commit to one day a week, or just weekdays, or twice a month. Whatever. Just show up.

If you’re more of an auditory learner, I particularly found these two podcast episodes Marty did inspiring. Again, don’t heap guilt on yourself. Commit to something you can sustain, and be faithful with it. As Marty says, there aren’t may things we have control over in this life, but intimacy with God and spiritual discipline are two things we do have control of.

Creating A Space – Ep 24 (circa 2017) Marty starts with talking about the tabernacle, but stick with it and he’ll go into the practice of spiritual disciplines.

Sabbath Practice – Discipline Ep 355 (Aug 2023) Marty gives an update on how he’s kept up his spiritual practices and does a bit of a deeper dive.

So, what about you? There are a lot of spiritual disciplines that I don’t touch on here. Are there any that you practice? Are there any you’re curious to learn more about?