Only one habit needed

We are pleased to announce the release of my latest book: The Habit of Discipleship. Here is an excerpt:

Read any book on the spiritual disciplines and you will be encouraged to participate in a long list of disciplines. I recommend two—one, really. I recommend you embrace the habit of the Word and prayer—the Christian Quiet Time.

If you read other books on the topic, you will find a much longer lists, including Donald Whitney’s list of twelve spiritual disciplines:

• Scripture reading
• Prayer
• Worship
• Scripture meditation
• Evangelism
• Serving
• Stewardship of time and money
• Scripture application
• Fasting
• Silence and solitude
• Journaling
• Learning

Richard Foster has similar list:

• Meditation
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Study
• Simplicity
• Solitude
• Submission
• Service
• Confession
• Worship
• Guidance
• Celebration

Kent Hughes goes in a little different direction, but his list is even longer:

• Discipline for Godliness
• Discipline of Purity
• Discipline of Marriage
• Discipline of Fatherhood
• Discipline of Friendship
• Discipline of Mind
• Discipline of Devotion
• Discipline of Prayer
• Discipline of Worship
• Discipline of Integrity
• Discipline of Tongue
• Discipline of Work
• Discipline of Perseverance
• Discipline of Church
• Discipline of Leadership
• Discipline of Giving
• Discipline of Witness
• Discipline of Ministry
• Grace of Discipline

All these things are fine and good. And, they may all come in time. But the length of the list can keep us from successfully living the Christian life. If I think that Christian living is about disciplining myself to do fourteen things I really don’t know how to do, or want to do… it seems as impossible as it is distasteful. Very few even try.

I suggest a different model. instead of making yourself do fourteen things you don’t want to do, get in the habit of one and only one thing: have a Quiet Time. Start your day with your Bible on your lap. Start your day in the Word and in prayer. As simple as this sounds, this one habit has the power to totally transform your life. If you will get in the habit of spending half an hour a day in prayer and in the Word, your life will be unrecognizable a year from now.

Christianity is about a relationship with God. A relationship is about communication. God talks to me; I talk to Him. God speaks to me primarily through His Word. I speak to Him through prayer. Once these two habits are in place, all the rest will follow as night follows day.