Dear God, I was reading a marriage daily devotion this morning, and it had a line in it that caught my eye: “That’s what makes forgiveness an essential spiritual discipline.” (Gary Thomas, Simply Sacred, April 1) I appreciate the idea that forgiveness, especially in marriage, is important. I agree. And forgiveness can be really hard. It is especially hard when it has to be offered without being sought by the offender. I’m still trying to figure out how to work through that sometimes. What it means and what it doesn’t.

But what are other spiritual disciplines to which I should pay attention? Let me see what kind of a list I can come up with here (not in any specific order):

• Contemplative Prayer
• Scripture Study
• Individual worship
• Corporate worship
• Community (one-on-one Christian relationships as well as group work)
• Forgiveness
• Outreach to neighbors (evangelism?)
• Repentance
• Striving for holiness
• Loving neighbors
• Giving (time and money)

Funny. This list reminds me of the checklist on the offertory envelopes in my Baptist church when I was a kid. It had things like:

• Present
• Bible brought
• Bible daily read
• Lesson studied
• Giving
• Worship attendance

I think this list was supposed to give me a framework for developing spiritual discipline. And the envelopes I had gave a number value for each item that was supposed to add up to 100. I don’t remember which ones were worth more points, but I know they weren’t equal. It was an interesting thing for me as an 8-year-old to see and think about.

Father, I have a Saturday before me. I have opportunities to do a lot of different things. I’m about to do a big bike ride. How will I use that time on the bike? I’ll have time later in the day to spend with my wife, contact friends, and then just some down time. How will I use that time as well? I can’t answer all of that now, but please help me to be mindful of some of these things as I think about disciplining myself to be transformed into the new creation you have for me to be.

I pray this under your authority,

Amen