Checkpoints: Spiritual Disciplines

by Desi Ash

I don’t remember the first time I fell in love with playing a musical instrument, but I do remember that it didn’t happen on day one. 

When I first started playing the violin in fourth grade my instructor had me practice every day at a certain time. I hated it. Not only was it hard and frustrating, but I wasn’t very good at all. Slowly over time I got better and practicing my violin was something that I looked forward too.

This week we continue sharing about the seven checkpoints, the key ideas we see as essential to the spiritual foundation for every child. Our second checkpoint is Spiritual Disciplines, developing a habit of reading the Bible, praying, journaling, and memorizing Scripture.

Developing the habits of Spiritual Disciplines can be similar to my experience of practicing the violin. It can be hard and boring and frustrating to begin and get in the routine of doing, but over time that time with God is something you not only long for but look forward too.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The world we live in unfortunately isn’t the world that God had in mind when he created it. It is easy to get caught up in the stress and pressure of society and lose track of God. In order to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as Paul says, it happens through our spiritual disciplines. It is through the time we spend removing lies of the world and replacing them with truth from God. The more we learn and know about God, the more we will do as God says.

The best way to start making spiritual disciplines a habit is by scheduling time every day at a certain time to sit down and do them. For some people that is the morning, for others it’s before bed, what works best for you? What spiritual disciplines are you modeling for your kids? What you model is what they will base their own spiritual disciplines on. 

You can help your kids develop a habit of spiritual disciplines. Start by picking a time that will work every day. Next, pick a place that can be special, that will help focus on spending time with God. Then dive in.

We provide many things to help aid you in helping your kids during the week. For kids and preteens we provide tools for families to do together to talk about the lesson on Sunday morning. For our jr. high and high school youth we provide devotionals that they can do on their own.

As stressful as it can seem to add one more thing to your schedule, remember, if we can see as God sees, we will do as God says. The only way to know what God sees and what God says is by having a consistent devotional and prayer life. And this idea is the second checkpoint.