Fixed-Hour Prayer Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. – Psalm 55:17 (KJV) Prayer should be the pulse of our day, not just the emergency brake we pull when things go wrong. The Psalmist cultivated a rhythm of prayer at…
Bodily Discipline Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. – 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV) We often treat our bodies as if they have the right to dictate our choices, letting…
Fasting from Words Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. – Proverbs 17:27 (KJV) We live in a culture that rewards the ‘quick reply,’ often at the expense of wisdom. Proverbs reminds us that the mark of an excellent spirit is…
Spiritual Reading Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. – 1 Timothy 4:13 (KJV) While the Bible is our ultimate authority and the bread of our spiritual life, God also uses the writings of faithful believers throughout history to challenge, clarify, and deepen our understanding of His…
Retreats and Isolation Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. – Luke 5:16 (KJV) Even Jesus, who was perfect and walked in constant communion with the Father, recognized the need to withdraw into the wilderness. If the Son of God needed to step away from the crowds and the…
Rule of Life Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: Let all things be done decently and in order. – 1 Corinthians 14:40 (KJV) A ‘Rule of Life’ is simply a framework of intentional habits—a trellis upon which our spiritual lives can grow and thrive. Without disciplined rhythms such as morning prayer, consistent Bible study, and intentional Sabbath…
Liturgical Prayer Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. – Matthew 6:9 (KJV) We often feel that if our prayers aren’t spontaneous, they aren’t ‘authentic.’ Yet, Jesus gave His disciples a structured prayer (The Lord’s Prayer) to serve as a framework for…
Night Watches/Vigils Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. – Psalm 119:148 (KJV) Nighttime can be a lonely place where the mind tends to replay the day’s failures or rehearse the next day’s anxieties. The Psalmist, however, used these quiet, dark hours for a different…
Fasting for Direction Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. – Acts 13:2 (KJV) The early church didn’t make major decisions in a vacuum; they made them in the presence of God, punctuated…
Obedience Discipleship S.T.E.P.S.: Practice Scripture: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. – James 1:22 (KJV) James warns us that the danger of hearing the truth without doing the truth is self-deception. We can become experts in theology while remaining novices in obedience. God’s Word is not…