Sometime ago, my daughter slept off at night without having her dinner. When she woke up early the next day, her mum had to quickly fix her meal. Later that day, I teased her about it and asked why she could not fast. Her response got me thinking; “I don’t like fasting. Someone will be hungry when fasting.” I simply told her; “Nobody loves fasting. People discipline themselves to fast.”
Friend, spirituality is both a life and a discipline (1 Timothy 4:15). The abundant life you received at salvation has to be constantly fed and exercised if you would live a victorious Christian life (John 10:10). Nobody becomes a master without the right practices. Nobody becomes spiritual by default. It has to be by discipline.
To be spiritual has to do with practising spirit rituals. What spirit rituals are you practising that is feeding and exercising the spiritual life in you (Mark 1:35)? A ritual is a set of actions, words, or behaviours that are performed in a specific and often repetitive way. The key here is repetition. Practice does not only make perfect. It also makes permanent.
What you do once in a while is not a ritual and cannot make you spiritual (Daniel 11:31, Acts 2:46). Praying once in a while cannot make you spiritual. It has to be repeatedly done. You cannot attend church only when you feel like and expect to have a sound spiritual life (Hebrews 10:25). Jesus, Daniel, Paul, etc., all had customs or rituals. What customs or rituals do you engage in daily (Luke 4:16)?
Learn to choose practices that are consistent with your unique purpose and destiny (Daniel 1:8). You cannot afford to compare yourself with others (2 Corinthians 10:12). People might say that you are too serious or strict. But it is better to be serious and successful than to be frivolous and fail. Own your destiny and journey without shame.
Nobody loves fasting. Nobody has the gift of fasting. Anyone who fasts, prays, or gives develops the capacity and discipline for it with time (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). Even if you have a gift or grace in an area, such a grace only works to the extent that you carry out the right labours and disciplines (1 Corinthians 15:10). Your disciplines and practices are either making you a spiritual giant or midget. Choose wisely.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria