The Reason for Rhythms
Do rhythms, practices, and disciplines possess some type of special power?
Jesus had rhythms like prayer and solitude (Luke 5:16). We read about Daniel's rhythms of praying three times a day (Daniel 6:10), and the early church committed themselves to the teaching of scripture, life together, communion, and prayer (Acts 2:42).
Believe it or not, the goal is not merely to read our Bible, pray, go to church, or practice the Sabbath. While these practices hold significance, they aren't the ultimate goal. So why engage in them? Is it to uphold tradition, boost our self-esteem, or secure some type of spiritual gold star? Of course not.
So what is the goal?
Love.
All of our spiritual practices and disciples are about forming us into people of love. Love is the ultimate sign of spiritual maturity. Love is the goal.
Jesus expressed it this way, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Love is the goal, and love is something that grows over time. It’s a fruit of the Spirit. Rhythms or spiritual disciplines cultivate the right environment for us to grow into people of love, and to become more like Jesus. Rhythms are simply a means to an end.
Listen to what Richard Foster writes in his book, Celebration of Discipline:
“A farmer is helpless to grow grain; all he can do is provide the right conditions for the growing of grain. He cultivates the ground, he plants the seed, he waters the plants, and then the natural forces of the earth take over, and up comes the grain...This is the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines - they are a way of sowing to the Spirit... By themselves, the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done.”
The Apostle Paul said it like this, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
This is the purpose of spiritual disciplines and practices - to help us develop intentional rhythms that create space for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.
Love is the goal. So let me ask you, do you have an intentional plan to become more loving and more like Jesus?
If you're ready to create more space for God to form you, I would love to connect. You can schedule a call here.
Also, I will be hosting an online workshop next month entitled "Creating Rhythms for Life." If you’d like to be the first to know the exact date and get 50% off, join the waitlist here.
