“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult or you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea ,so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get ti and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).
People go to the gym religiously, but we cannot worship faithfully. People study the stock market as if their life depended on it, but we cannot study the scriptures as if our eternal destinies were at stake. We can spend hours upon hours on Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, but we have great difficulty praying for fifteen minutes.
What does this tell us?
Our commitment to other things demonstrates that we have the capacity to devote and commit ourselves. The issue is neither our capacity nor our inability to commit. It isn’t our hectic schedules that prevents us from practicing our spiritual disciplines. The problem has to do with our hearts, our willingness, our priorities.
Sure, I indulge in a movie or binge watch Netflix. But, I also am committed to reading the Bible, praying, and journaling every day. I don’t read the Bible and pray because I am a pastor. I read the Bible and pray because I am a Christian. The only thing preventing most people from being devoted to spiritual disciplines is themselves. It is a matter of priorities.
This is the only way we get to know who God is. Commit to spending time with God everyday. Ten minutes in God’s word and five minutes in prayer. If you’re already not doing so, no better day than today to get started.
Praxis: Faith in Action 