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Spiritual Disciplines

Ten Minute Mystic: Part 2: Growing in Piety Through Praying Scripture (1)

Introduction

            In his vision for life, Jesus speaks a great deal about prayer.  He instructs us in the wrong way: “And when you pray, you must not…And when you pray, do not… (Matt. 6:5,7).  And Jesus instructs us in the right way: “But when you pray…Pray then like this… (Matt. 6:6,9).  It is clear that, for Jesus, prayer is one of the central practices for growing in piety.

            Mark Thibodeaux suggests there are four kinds of prayer.[1]  He illustrates each kind through a story about himself and his Aunt Sally.

  • First, there is “Talking at God.”  When Thibodeaux was four years old, his Aunt Sally came to visit.  Tongue tied, Thibodeaux didn’t know what to say to her.  His mother said, “Say ‘Hello Aunt Sally.’”; “Tell Aunt Sally how old you are.”; “Say, ‘I’m four years old.’”  Thibodeaux’s mother gave him the words to say.  Some prayer is like this.  We invite someone else to give us the words we need to speak to God.  We use someone else’s prayer for our own prayer.  This is similar to our use of pre-written wedding vows or popular love songs—we use someone else’s words to say what we want to say but aren’t sure how to say.  Thibodeaux calls these “ready-made prayers.”   
  • Second, there is “Talking to God.”  When Thibodeaux was elementary aged, his Aunt Sally came for another visit.  Thibodeaux told her all about a picture he had just finished drawing.  This time, he didn’t need prompting from Mom.  He just spontaneously spoke whatever came to mind.  Some prayer is like this.  It is spontaneous.  We tell God whatever comes to mind.  This is the most common kind of prayer.
  • Third, there is “Listening to God.”  When Thibodeaux was thirteen years old, Aunt Sally moved in with his family.  She was too old to continue living by herself.  On many occasions Thibodeaux would just listen as Aunt Sally told him stories about her life.  Some prayer is like this.  We sit in solitude and strive to listen as God speaks. 
  • Finally, there is “Being with God.”  When Thibodeaux was in college, Aunty Sally was old and frail.  He spent long periods with her in silence, neither one speaking, but both enjoying just being with one another.  Some prayer is like this.  The focus is not on speaking or listening but on simply being with God and resting in his presence.

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Ten Minute Mystic: Part 2: Growing in Piety Through The Examen

 

            In Part 1 we firmly impressed on our hearts and minds Jesus’ vision for our walk with God (piety), our relationships (people) and our approach toward money and material things (possessions).  In Parts 2-4 we explore specific spiritual disciplines or practices by which we can participate with the Holy Spirit in experiencing growth in these areas for the sake of the world.  Each practice can be done in ten minutes or less.

            In Part 2 we focus specifically on piety—transformation in our relationship with God.  We’ll explore four spiritual disciplines which can bring growth between us and God.  Three days in our forty day experience will be devoted to each of these four disciplines.  Thus, we’ll spend the next twelve days growing in piety.

Increasing Depth

            One of the greatest lessons Jesus teaches about piety in the Sermon on the Mount has to do with our tendency to become shallow and superficial in our walk with God.  Specifically, we move toward a faith which is focused on getting applause from others and on doing what looks good publicly.  When around others, we appear truly intimate with God.  When by ourselves, we are something else.  Jesus warns against this in Matt. 6:1-18.  It is also the topic of his anti-Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 23.  Three times in Matt. 6:1-18 Jesus warns against practicing piety before others for their applause.  Seven times in Matt. 23 Jesus warns against masquerading as spiritual people in order to gain respect and status.  In Matt. 6:1-18 Jesus calls for a spirituality which is done in secret rather than performed for others.  In Matt. 23 Jesus demands a faith which doesn’t just look pretty on the outside but deeply affects the inside as well.

            One spiritual practice uniquely suited to moving beyond the superficial and external is called the Examen.  It’s a habit which enables us to become “pure in heart” (Matt. 5:8)—that is, experiencing a faith that is not only external but internal as well.

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