Developing Spiritual Disciplines

As my journey into faith continues, I find myself wanting to approach it the way I approach other large challenges: by identifying a stringent process and adhering to it. I am fascinated by processes which is a big part of the success I have enjoyed in business (fertile ground for process and discipline).

Enter the Christian Disciplines.

What are they? What process exists that has been handed down through the ages as a structure within which to move toward our Lord and embed his presence in our life? My research has thus far turned up an interesting book.

The book is Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney. Part of the description says this book moves through "a carefully selected array of disciplines including Scripture reading, prayer, worship, Scripture meditation, evangelism, serving, stewardship of time and money, Scripture application, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, and learning." Are these disciplines regarded only by the author, or are these generally accepted as the set of disciplines to which the deliberate and methodical Christian should adhere?

While my question warrants further research, I move forth to examine the disciplines mentioned above and where I currently stand with each. This is somewhat of a taking of inventory or self-assessment to identify where effort needs to be allocated and where refined understanding must occur before appropriate application of these.

• Scripture Reading: I am currently conducting daily devotions out of the Men's Devotional Bible by Zondervan Publishing. This includes scriptural readings. I am not digesting this scripture in a deliberate enough manner to truly draw out solid lessons and gifts.
• Prayer: I need much work here. I regard prayer as something I do alone and within. I am stunted in my ability to pray in the presence of others as this requires vocalization, a skill that I am most marginal in compared to writing or inner thought.
• Worship: To be entirely honest, I barely understand this word and need to delve much farther here.
• Scripture Meditation: At this point, I regard this as Lectio Divina (oh boy, an outlined process!). I do not currently practice it, but wish to do so. I lack the spiritual maturity to attempt this yet, at least that's my sense.
• Evangelism: My shallow understanding of evangelism is it's the act of spreading His word. Different from service or conducting one's self as an example, this is deliberate outreach regarding Him. I have made but one timid forray into this realm (will speak of this in a later post). I shy away from this, it's quite challenging.
• Serving: I feel very strongly here. I wish to serve Him in some way, likely in some capacity within my church. I have considered other methods of service that could actually transform into opportunities for evangelism (gasp at the thought, I'm so shy).
• Stewardship of Time and Money: I would gladly be a steward of money if I had any. Sorry, bad joke. Seriously, I work on both these things but can honestly say I pay more lipservice than effort to it.
• Scripture Application: This is entirely new to me. If I take it's meaning literally, I interpret this as applying the scripture to everyday life. This warrants research.
• Fasting: Ok, this is probably the zone I am the farthest away from. Those who know me would fall face down laughing at the prospect of me restraining my eating in any way. Yes, that's right - I'm guilty of gluttony. Ok, we've identified a major area of work here!
• Silence and Solitude: So difficult to practice with a full secular life and two young children in the house. Work to be done here. Is this perhaps part of Lectio Divina as well?
• Journaling: This body of work fits the bill here. On top of it, I have a paper notebook within which I record additional personal thoughts during my devotional time.
• Learning: Another "no problem" area. I would probably die if I stopped learning. It is perhaps one of the most unquencheable driving forces in my life. I literally devote 1-3 hours each day minimum to learning. I also long to return to college and wish to be a professor someday.

Much to consider. Doesn't seem like I shape up too far off the mark, at least out the gate. I look forward to researching this. I do want to identify accepted Christian Disciplines so that I may integrate them in my life where they already are not present.