"God has revealed certain channels through which he regularly pours out his favor. And we're foolish not to take his word on them and build habits of spiritual life around them."  - Mathis

Becoming a Christian is more than adopting a new set of beliefs. Belief is at the core of Jesus' gospel, but new belief always leads to new action. The life of a disciple involves a new lifestyle. New routines. New practices. New habits. These "habits" – you may know them as "spiritual disciplines" – are what David Mathis focuses on in his book. The Bible, along with thousands of years of church tradition, show us there are certain practices we must adopt in order to flourish in our walk with Jesus.

Now, before you write this off as some form of legalism or performance-based Christianity, don’t ignore the last word in the title of the book: "Grace." The habits we will look at are not ways of earning the Father's love. They are not even primarily measurements of our faithfulness. At their core, these practices are ways of enjoying Jesus. What a mind-shift! Instead of making a to-do list of spiritual chores in order to earn your keep in the kingdom, create new habits that help you enjoy the presence of God Himself. That’s what we're after. Mathis says it this way: "Spiritual growth is a marvelous effect of [spiritual] practices, but in a sense it is only a side effect. The heart is knowing and enjoying Jesus." With this in mind, let's look at the 3 main categories of spiritual practices: 

1. Hear His Voice (Word)
2. Have His Ear (Prayer)
3. Belong to His Body (Fellowship)

Hear His Voice

What story do you live in? What do you believe is most true about this world and about yourself? Who you listen to will shape the story you believe. Who speaks into your life the most? We live in a time of suffocating amounts of information, advertisements, entertainment, etc. There are a mind-boggling amount of voices speaking to us. Trying to get us to live in their story. Trying to sway our decisions. Shaping our view of the world and of ourselves. But there is only one True Voice. 

Do you have at least one habit that puts you in a place to hear God's voice? We need to hear God's story about the world. We need to hear what He says about Himself and what He says about us. That is what is most true. 

Here are some ways we can practice hearing God's voice:

• Read and study the Bible alone
• Read and study the Bible in community
• Meditate on the Bible
• Memorize the Bible
• Spend time alone in silence
• Be attentive to God's Spirit living in you

Have His Ear 

Let this sink in: Our God speaks; but he also listens. To us. As lowly and sinful and frail as we are. The God who has the right and power and ability to speak over everything and everyone else decides to give us a turn. God chooses to listen to us. Yet we often view prayer as a burdensome task. We experience it as a challenging ritual. Before we resolve to making prayer a habit, we must recognize it for what it is: a gift. 

And it is a gift that gives. Prayer is not ultimately about asking for stuff. It's about spending time with a Person. Mathis says that "prayer is not finally about getting things from God, but getting God." What else could we want? Prayer is where relationship happens. Prayer is where surrender happens. Prayer is where honesty happens. Prayer is where confession, repentance, and forgiveness happen. 

Here are some ways we can practice having God's ear:

• Pray in secret
• Pray in community
• Fast from a meal (or more) to spend devoted time in prayer
• Pray first thing in the morning (before you touch your phone)
• Pray at each transition of your day (morning, lunch, end of workday, before sleep)
• Keep a prayer journal

Belong to His Body

"The grace of God cannot be quarantined to individuals." - Mathis. The life of discipleship is a community project. We can't go at it alone. Nothing makes us as uncomfortable, challenged, encouraged, seen, loved, corrected, and cared for as living life with other disciples of Jesus. Living a vulnerable and secure life in community does not happen on its own. It takes intentional habits. Until Jesus returns, this community will by no means be perfect. It will be messy and hurtful at times. But trust me, it's worth it. Actually don’t trust me, trust God. He calls His Church the very body of Jesus. If we want to fully enjoy Jesus, we must be an active part of His body.

Here are some ways we can practice belonging to God's body:

• Participate in the weekly worship gathering
• Create time and space to listen to other Christians (their story, needs, struggles, joys, etc.)
• Create time and space to share with other Christians (your story, needs, struggles, joys, etc.)
• Partake in believer's baptism (both for yourself, and celebrating others)
• Partake in Communion together
• Serve the needs of others in the Body
• Engage together in outreach to those who are not yet part of the Body

Let's lean into these practices of grace in order to enjoy Jesus, become more like Him, and begin to live like Him.