Waking up this morning, I was running late and as is often the case on Monday, I was running on less than a full tank. I hurried down to our morning pastoral team prayer meeting at New Life Midway and to be honest, I wasn't too excited. I just wanted to be left alone. No particular reason--just a stubborn, sinful heart.
I arrived and began praying quietly while Hillsong United worship music played in the room. Sipped my coffee as I prayed. My heart was beginning to warm a little.
A few minutes later we clustered up in groups of 3 to pray further. As I prayed with Pastors Mike and Luke, my heart began to feel fully refreshed. As we took turns calling out to God my heart lightened. Each prayer made me feel more like I was ready to love and follow Jesus, made me repentant for a bad 'tude, made me glad that I prayed instead of sulking.
I mentioned this awhile back but I'll say it again--your spiritual "inner circle" will have a big impact on the level of your spiritual growth. If you surround yourself with people who love and yearn for Jesus, you will find yourself wanting to do the same.
Let me add to that principle: your spiritual rituals will also determine your spiritual depth and growth. Now I know that ritual can be a negative word, but ritual is simply a word that means things that you consistently, even determinedly do. It often has the connotation of religious devotion with it.
A spiritual ritual is a pattern of spiritual practice that brings your heart back to God again and again. Building good, communal spiritual rituals into your life helps keep you from hard-heartedness. Anyone can choose to build good communal spiritual ritual into their life, one brick at a time.
Thanks for a good reminder.
Posted by: Mo | July 17, 2007 at 09:27 AM