Habits of Grace ( Spiritual Disciplines)

1 Timothy 4:7–8 “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

I’ve been given the assignment to speak on spiritual disciplines—but more than that, I believe I’ve been sent on a mission to reframe how we see them.

There are three key principles that form the foundation of what I want to share with you today:

Hearing His voice — through the Word.

Having His ear — through prayer.

Belonging to His body — through fellowship.

This framework isn’t mine. I first learned it from David Mathis in his book Habits of Grace. But what I’ve come to find is that this isn’t just a framework… it’s a lifeline.

Now let me say this upfront—spiritual disciplines are incredibly beneficial.

Reading Scripture.

Praying.

Fasting.

Journaling.

Practicing solitude.

Keeping the Sabbath.

Living generously.

All of these habits will absolutely shape you into a better man—they’ll sharpen your mind, settle your soul, and anchor your days.

But hear me clearly:

Becoming better men is not the goal.

That’s a blessing, not the bullseye.

The goal is more of Jesus.

To see Him more clearly.

To hear Him more frequently.

To love Him more deeply.

To become so rooted in His grace that everything else we do flows from it.

And listen to this—John Piper, in the foreword of Habits of Grace, says it like this:

“God’s work does not make our work unnecessary; it makes it possible.”

That hits deep.

It means your discipline doesn’t replace God’s grace—it’s only possible because of it.

God isn’t waiting for you to measure up. He’s inviting you to meet Him in the habits that shape your soul.

He provides the strength, the desire, and the power—but you still have to show up.

Because here’s the hard truth:

We are addicted to self-improvement.

We love the hustle.

We crave progress.

But if we don’t fix our eyes on why we do what we do, we’ll fall into the trap of trying to achieve godliness without God.

Trying harder instead of trusting deeper.

Working in our strength rather than walking in His Spirit.

Discipline without delight becomes duty.

And duty without grace becomes death.

So before we go any further today, I need you to ask yourself this:

Am I pursuing spiritual habits to get better…

or to get closer?

Because Jesus isn’t impressed by your performance—

But He is deeply moved by your pursuit.

You have already heard it reference at this retreat:

Zechariah 4:6 “.’..Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Hearing God’s voice (His word) 

Psalm 1:1–3 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 119:9–11 “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Having his Ear (Prayer)

Jeremiah 33:3 “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Belonging to his body (Fellowship)

Acts 2:42–46 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,”

Mark 2 and Luke 5 story of the friends that helped the lame man see Jesus