8 Spiritual Disciplines and How to Master Each

I was sitting in a Holy Spirit service a few weeks ago that quickly turned into a heart for hype and far too much emphasis on emotionalism. People wanted an experience, something that would mark them forever. The problem with putting emotions and experiences over Scripture, if not obvious, is that when you don’t feel “it” or Him, you begin to doubt God’s Word and, inevitably, God.

Listen, I am here for more of the Spirit, but we must be careful not to put emotion over Truth. Because what happens is one, we don’t know better than God’s Word, and two, when things don’t go how we’d like, we begin to doubt what He said.

I’m hungry for a move of God that is full of expectation for the Spirit to do supernatural things but is grounded in the Word of God to do holy things, too. It’s the spiritual training of godliness (1 Timothy 4:6-8) that truly marks us beyond a moment.

We must be men and women of God grounded in the Word with a strong foundation in Christ. But we don’t just arrive there—it takes work. Hard work. It takes the grit to do the holy things even when you don’t feel like it. Commitment to the things of God in the face of opposition.

That’s what spiritual disciplines help us with. They are regular, biblical practices that help individuals spiritually grow and cultivate a deeper connection with God.

So, what are these practices, and how do we master each?

Spiritual Disciplines in Scripture

We find several practices throughout Scripture identified as spiritual disciplines. Now, the Bible doesn’t come out and give us a list of these practices, but with the definition of a spiritual discipline in mind, we can find several examples in the Bible. Acts and practices that mature us and make us more like Christ.

1. Prayer

“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” Psalm 116:2 (NLT)

God bends down to hear the prayers of His people, a play of intimacy. And He desires for us to respond. The person who prays is the person who positions themself to meet with God—a place where intimacy leads to maturity. This individual opens themselves up to commune with God. To know Him and align their heart with His.

To be a man or woman who prays, you must be in regular prayer. Certainly, spend a set-aside time with Him daily but also talk to God throughout your day. Chat with Him as naturally as you would a dear friend, but more. In the car, while you’re cleaning, whatever it is, talk to God through it. That’s the hallmark of someone who has learned to pray.

2. Bible Reading

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

Reading God’s Word is by far the best way to know God and hear from Him. It’s the very food that sustains you each day. As Paul writes, it teaches, corrects, and trains us. It provides us with everything we need for holy living.

A person absolutely cannot grow in Christ today, apart from the Bible. Do you want to hear His voice, know His will, and understand His character? You’ll find it in His holy Scriptures.

To master Bible reading, you don’t have to be a theologian or have gone to seminary. It’s the simple discipline of opening His Word and reading it daily.

3. Fasting

“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:23 (NIV)

Fasting was a common practice in the Bible, particularly noted in the Old Testament. People and prophets naturally turned to fasting as part of their spiritual toolkits.

It’s the act of removing something from your life—food, television, social media—and using that time to pray. It’s an outward manifestation of an inward commitment to God over anything else. It’s saying, “I need God more than I need this [thing].”

When a person commits to fasting, they meet with God in a beautiful way. Incorporate this discipline into your life, and you will find it richly rewarding.

4. Worship

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Psalm 95:6 (ESV)

At the heart of worship is a declaration of the goodness of God. It’s proclaiming how wonderful He is and how much you love Him. Worship bursts out of the heart of the believer who loves God!

But I also recognize we don’t always feel like worshiping. It’s in these moments we press into worship because we know it’s something we are called to. And the beautiful thing is, as we worship, our heart stirs, and praise begins to overflow from the weary heart.

To master worship is to engage in praise even when you don’t feel like it.

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5. Fellowship

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Acts 2:42 (ESV)

We live in an age when believers don’t necessarily believe church attendance is necessary (and COVID certainly didn’t help with this). As a pastor, I’ve heard many comments over the years that a person can meet with God in their home, so why go to church?

While this sentiment of God’s presence being available everywhere is true, a person misses the heart of God when they neglect fellowship.

We were created in His likeness, and our God is One who lives in perfect harmony within the Godhead. And He created us for relationship, too. Fellowship is a huge part of who He is and what He desires. So why do we think it’s okay to live in isolation at most, or apart from a church body at least?

Find a healthy local church to plant yourself in. Do life in community! Here you will find a fullness you can’t find alone. A support system that carries you through difficult times. The discipline of church attendance is fruitful to a believer's life!

6. Stewardship

“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 (CSB)

Sometimes the most important thing we can do in a moment is to take what God has put into our hands and use it for His glory. It’s why we can go all the way back to Genesis 1 and find God’s original mandate for man—to steward.

Be faithful with what God has given you, even when you’re tired, or it seems mundane. When the task is unseen. To steward well is to practice obedience and submission to God.

7. Confession

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:19 (ESV)

I truly believe that one of the hallmarks of a mature Christian is a quickness to repentance. It’s an urgency to confession in the aftermath of sin.

The spiritual discipline of confession means to be swift in your repentance. The person who practices this will find great freedom and maturity as a believer. And to master, simply be quick to confess sin and turn from it. No matter how small (or perhaps what’s harder, how big), repent.

8. Gratitude

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)

The longer I walk with God, the more value I see in the discipline of gratitude. It has the power to turn a heart and mind. To take the worrier, the saddened, and stir hope.

When we cultivate a grateful heart, we become the kind of people who don’t waver in uncertainty but rather use their thanksgiving as a faith tool.

A master of gratitude remembers to thank God for everything they have, and for what they believe in. It’s a natural response in both the good and the hard; the fruitful and the barren.

There are other disciplines throughout Scripture, such as solitude, sacrifice, witnessing, submission, serving others, and meditation on God’s Word, simplicity, and more. I certainly encourage you to explore these practices on your own to know God on a deeper level and grow as a believer in Christ.

I have found the book So, You Want to Be Like Christ by Charles Swindoll to be a wonderful read for the person wanting to be a person of spiritual discipline.

A Call to Consistency

Let me suggest that you may not master all or even some. It’s not about perfection but rather obedience. Listen, I don’t execute these perfectly each day, but my posture is to try and engage with all as often and sincerely as I can.

If this is all new to you, start with one or two and form a habit in those disciplines. Then add more. God will use these moments to dig deep roots in you that abide in Him.

If you’ve been a believer for a while but are looking for that fresh wind or call to renewal, examine in what areas you might give more attention to.

God wants to strengthen you and mold you to His likeness. But you play a part in that process. Make these disciplines a priority in your life, and I have no doubt that you will see just how valuable they are to the Christian walk.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/doidam10 

Brittany Rust has a passion to see people impacted by the power of God’s Word and His abundant grace through writing and speaking. She is the founder of Truth and Grace Ministries, Truth x Grace Women, and is the author of five books. Brittany lives with her husband, Ryan, and son, Roman, in Castle Rock, Colorado. Learn more at www.brittanyrust.com.