Using Spiritual Habits or Disciplines to Draw Closer to God
- RD Montgomery
- Jan 7
- 9 min read
This list is most commonly referred to as spiritual disciplines, but despite how the name sounds in modern English, these are not punishments. They are educational exercises designed to deepen your loving relationship with and understanding of God.
Every loving relationship requires work. In a healthy relationship, this work doesn’t seem like work most of the time because you want to do it. However, as humans, sometimes we do have to push ourselves a little. For instance, I enjoy feeling close to my wife, and I want to feel even closer. I hope you and your spouse feel the same way. Our relationship with God should be the most important one we have. We should want to feel closer to Him today than we did yesterday.
So I don’t want you to think of the following list as a set of rules, but as a way to quench a thirst. The Psalmist wrote, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." (Psalm 42:1). We were created with a desperate thirst for intimacy with our Creator. These spiritual disciplines are simply the way we bend down to drink.
How to Use This List
Don't make this a checklist. If you treat these acts as requirements to earn God's favor, you are back to the "leaven of the Pharisees"—a lifeless religion. You should engage in these habits because you want to be with Him, just as a thirsty person wants water.
Develop the taste for Living Water. Sometimes, the "discipline" comes in getting accustomed to drinking Spiritual water. If you haven't had it in a long time, you may not realize what you are missing. You might need to push yourself initially to take those first few drinks. But as you do, you will "taste and see that the Lord is good," and what started as discipline will turn into desire.
Drink to stay ahead of the thirst. Other times, the discipline is drinking even when you don't feel an immediate urge, knowing that staying hydrated keeps your spirit healthy and your heart soft.
Personal Spiritual Habits or Disciplines
Focusing on the transformation of the heart and the conduct of our daily lives.
Abstinence: Temporarily give up legitimate comforts or activities—such as social media or entertainment—to detach from the world and focus on God. Legitimate here means something you will definitely miss. The example verse used here is talking about husbands and wives abstaining from sexual intimacy for a short time, which is something they should legitimately miss. (see * note in footer)
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Corinthians 7:5)
Be Worthy of Your Calling: Live in a way that reflects the character of Christ and the high calling you have received, ensuring your actions align with your identity in Him.
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Ephesians 4:1)
Discernment: Practice distinguishing God's voice and truth from worldly noise, training your heart to recognize His will in all things.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14)
Fasting: Abstain from food for a set time to replace physical hunger with a hunger for God and a focus on prayer.
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” (Matthew 6:17-18)
Giving: Faithfully steward the financial resources God has entrusted to you, supporting the work of the Kingdom and breaking the power of greed.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Journaling: Record your gratitude, prayers, questions, and thoughts on Scripture to track how God is working in your life.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11)
Living Unveiled (Coram Deo): Live your entire life in the presence of God, turning even ordinary tasks into acts of holy worship.
“And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'” (Galatians 4:6)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
“Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17–18)
Prayer: Engage in an honest, two-way conversation with God, involving both speaking your heart and listening for His voice.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Private Worship: Offer praise and gratitude to God individually, recognizing His worthiness regardless of your circumstances.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1)
Relying on God’s Provision: Trust that God will provide for your needs rather than relying solely on your own effort, wealth, or planning.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Repentance: Change your mind to agree with God about your sin, making no provision for the flesh to feed on, and actively pursuing holiness.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19)
Rest / Sabbath: Set aside time to rest. We are less effective when we are weary. God knew this, and gave us the Sabbath. In addition, rest shows confidence in God. People that do not feel like they can rest are typically anxious.
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God...” (Hebrews 4:9-10)
Sacrifice: Intentionally give away something you need or value to stretch your faith and prove that God is your ultimate security.
“I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24)
Secrecy: Intentionally guard your heart against the need for public praise or gratitude. This practice isn't about hiding every good deed from every human eye—which would make public service impossible—but about ensuring your primary audience is God alone. You serve to please Him, even if others happen to witness your actions.
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.” (Matthew 6:3-4)
Service (Individual): Actively respond to the needs of those around you. If you see someone in need and you have the ability to help, you should do it.
“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
“As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
Simplicity & Frugality: Practice a lifestyle of contentment and abstain from unnecessary spending to free your heart from anxiety and redirect resources to God’s Kingdom.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Solitude: Spend time alone in silence, away from people and noise, to rest and be fully present with God.
“And rising very early in the morning... he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
Study & Meditation: Read and think deeply on Scripture, "chewing" on the Word until it permeates your soul and reveals God's truth.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night...” (Joshua 1:8)
Submission: Voluntarily let go of the need to have your own way or to be right, trusting God to look out for your interests.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Corporate Spiritual Habits or Disciplines
Focusing on how we grow together as a community of believers.
Celebration: Intentionally enjoy God’s goodness and gifts with others through laughter, food, and gratitude.
“And day by day... they received their food with glad and generous hearts.” (Acts 2:46)
Confession: Admit your sins and struggles to a trusted, mature believer to break the power of secret guilt and receive prayer.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
Corporate Prayer: Gather with others to lift up needs and seek God’s will. There is unique power when the Body of Christ agrees together.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.(Acts 2:42)
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
Corporate Worship: Gather with other believers to publicly express praise and gratitude, unifying the body in awe of who God is.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47)
Fellowship: Share your life, resources, and heart with other believers. This is spiritual partnership where we keep each other’s faith alive.
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)
Guidance (Corporate & Personal): Seek direction from the Holy Spirit by listening to the counsel of mature believers and walking in "soul friendships" for mutual accountability.
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
Service (Church Family): We should prioritize the needs of our church family to make sure they are stable and strong so they can help others.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)
Service & Evangelism (Mission): Actively participate in the work of the local church and the global mission of God, speaking the Gospel and caring for the needy as one body.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”Acts 20:35
Spiritual Gifts: Actively use your God-given spiritual gifts during church gatherings to build up and strengthen the Body of Christ.
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)
The Lord’s Supper: This is a time for deep, humble reflection on the broken body and spilled blood of our amazing Savior.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)
Conclusion: The Goal of the Journey
As you explore these disciplines, remember that the goal is not to become a "master of practices," but to become a master of loving God and others. These tools are simply the training ground. Just as an athlete trains to become strong for the race, we engage in these disciplines to become strong in the Spirit—ready to respond to God’s voice and reflect His character in a thirsty world.
All Scripture is in the ESV format unless otherwise specified.
*Note for why abstinence is separated from fasting: Many churches teach that fasting can include things like taking a break from social media. I do not disagree with that teaching. However, I see no reference in the Bible that uses fasting as abstaining from anything other than food. To be accurate, I have separated them.
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