Tag Archives: spiritual discipline

Staying Disciplined in Prayer and Running

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Michael Summers

When I was 26 or 27 years old, I decided that I wanted to start running to improve my fitness. Since it was a mile from my home to my office, I resolved to run from my home to work … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #WWWP5k, exercise, focus, practice, Prayer, running, spiritual discipline, spiritual fitness, weary | 2 Comments

A Prayer for Dwelling in Unity

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Michael Summers

Passion for unity flows throughout biblical narratives and prayers. We may overlook the friction that threatened the confederacy of tribes united around worship of one God and awareness of a common ancestry. The book of Judges records a tragic incident … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christian unity, John 17, Prayer, Psalm 133, Psalms, Psalms of Ascent, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spirituality, worship | 2 Comments

Like a Child with Its Mother

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Michael Summers

A sense of entitlement can mar our prayers as we worship God. If I believe I deserve more, that I have earned more than I have received, I will approach life and prayer with anger. On the other hand, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anger, anger management, faith, family, Genesis11, humility, Mother's Day, pride, Psalm 131, Psalms, religion, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spiritual warfare, spirituality | Leave a comment

A Prayer for Those Who Walk in God’s Ways

Posted on April 11, 2019 by Michael Summers

Actions have consequences. When we read Psalm 128, it seems that productivity and a healthy family life flow from fearing or have reverence for the Lord. The psalmist invokes a blessing on those that fear the Lord and walk in … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayers from Psalms, Uncategorized | Tagged benediction, blessings, children, faith, family, fear of God, life, obedience, Prayer, Psalm 128, Psalms of Ascent, religion, reverence, spiritual discipline | 1 Comment

Fasting and Social Media

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Michael Summers

I recently read a panicked message from the communications director of a large church that the senior minister had announced that he was giving up social media for forty days and wanted everyone in the congregation to do the same. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged altruism, Ash Wednesday, fasting, Lent, life, philanthropy, Prayer, relationships, religion, spiritual discipline, spirituality | 2 Comments

Devoted to Prayer?

Posted on January 17, 2019 by Michael Summers

When you think about activities of the Church that reveal its priorities, what comes to mind? Preaching the Bible? Observing Communion? Helping the poor? Healing the sick? Teaching our young the fundamentals of the faith? Evangelism? Foreign missions? Baptism? How … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Acts 1:14, Acts 2:42, Acts 6:4, benevolence, Christ, christianity, church, Church of Christ, Colossians 4:12, elders, faith, God, maturity, Prayer, priorities, religion, Romans 12:12, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spirituality, truth, unity | Leave a comment

A Prayer, a Song, and a Memory in the Night

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Michael Summers

When life is darkest, what do we pray? When hope dims, what songs do we sing? When opponents taunt, on what memories do we rely? In his prayer to the Lord, the writer of Psalm 119 provides his answers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayers from Psalms | Tagged advent, comfort, disappointment, faith, grief, Jesus, Lament, obedience, persecution, Psalm 119, Psalms, songs of faith, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spirituality, Torah | Leave a comment

A Prayer to the God who Distracts

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Michael Summers

Biblical writers employed metaphors and similes to describe the God whom no one has seen. We know well passages that envision God as Father, Lion, Creator, Shepherd, Warrior, and Refuge. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to passages … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Chronicles 18, Balaam, christianity, Esther, Hosea 5:12, metaphors for God, Mordecai, moth, Prayer, religion, repentance, simile, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spirituality, way of escape | Leave a comment

A Prayer for Focus

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Michael Summers

The prayer of the first stanza or strophe of Psalm 119 begins with beatitudes that echo Psalm 1: “Blessed are those who way is blameless, who walk in the way of the LORD!” These blessings introduce us to the intense … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayers from Psalms | Tagged christianity, commandments, discipleship, faith, law of God, lectio divina, Lord, Prayer, Psalm 119, religion, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spirituality, the Name, Torah, Yahweh | Leave a comment

Praying with confidence that God can effect change

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Michael Summers

As soldiers fail when they do not trust their weapons and other equipment, we cripple ourselves in the battle against evil when we do not believe that that “those who are with us are greater than those who are with … Continue reading →

Posted in Prayers from Psalms | Tagged christianity, confidence, faith, Jeremiah 50, life, Prayer, Psalm 94, religion, repentance, spiritual discipline, Spiritual Formation, spiritual warfare, spirituality | 1 Comment