Yearning: The Heart Behind the Disciplines

Topic: Holy Desire and the Means of Grace Main Idea: Spiritual disciplines are not self-improvement techniques but God-given “means of grace” that shape us to love God and neighbor. Scripture: Psalm 42:1–2; Philippians 3:7–14

Introduction — Desire at the Center of Discipleship

Everyone practices “disciplines” — fitness, productivity, hobbies — but Christian disciplines are different.

Tie into New Years Resolutions- tried many...eat better, lose weight, less technology. Makes for a miserable January followed by a return to old habits. I have also sworn off NY Resolutions in favour of the “I’m going to love Jesus more” or “I am going to stregthen my faith” approaches. Truth is- these sound good, but in reality they lack depth, and intentionality. There needs to be action involved, there needs to be follow through.

For the past many year, January has served as an opporunity and I to dive into the Spiritual Disciplines. We have personally studied it, we have reflected on it, we have preached on it. The reason: we believe these disciplines provide that action-oriented means for drawing into the presence of God. This year church, we would challenge you to not get lost in the cycle of NY resolutions, but rather draw intentionally into the presence of God.

So what are the Spiritual Disciplines? They are not a way to earn God’s favor, but a response to a deeper longing. They are not a prescription, but an invitation. There is no checklist, no one size fits all approach. Its about you, and the way you feel most connected to God. It’s also more importantly, about God and the way he designed you to dwell with him.

And so in this series, we are going to look at a few- study of scripture, prayer, worship, works of mercy and service, Sabbath and celebration. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather we will cover many of the “big ones”. I would encourage you all to spend some time studying the disciplines for yourself though. You may find one we don’t cover that might speak to you.

This morning though, before we dive in, we are going to spend some time looking at the posture from which we approach spiritual disciplines and our own spiritual formation.

Psalm 42 gives us the posture:

Psalm 42:1–2 “1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

“As the deer pants for streams of water… my soul thirsts for God.”

The disciplines flow out of holy desire — a yearning for God Himself.

I. Holy Desire — Longing for God Above All (Psalm 42:1–2)

A. The psalmist’s spiritual hunger

Not thirsting for blessings, feelings, or success

The idea of panting- illustrates desperation. We can look at this as our default state- that we are thirsty and the only thing that will satisfy is God himself. But context adds an important layer here. The Psalmist is writing in a time period for God’s people where God feels distant. There is an element of grief to this Psalm, of longing for the days when God felt close, when God’s relationship with his people was better.

Doesn’t that echo with us? Our churches are smaller, especially since COVID. The world around us seems to be getting further from God rather than closer. And so our thirst, our desperation for something more goes beyond just our default state, it is augmented by our circumstances.

And so, in that same breath, the Psalmist helps us refocus. He does not plea for a return for what was- the festivals, the pagentry, the good ‘ol days of God and his people. But rather, he asked for God and God alone. “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

B. Desire reveals what we love

Questions to reflect on:

What do I find myself craving most?

Where does my mind wander when it is free?

What disappointments reveal misplaced hopes?

When I feel distant from God, where do I go… emotionally, mentally and spiritually?

C. Spiritual disciplines awaken desire

The Psalmist opts to deal with feelings of emptiness, disappointment and longing by focusing on God. But specifically his yearning for God.

Yearn- (Collins Dictionary) to have intense desire for. (Cambridge Dictionary) to wish very strongly, especially for something that you cannot have or something that is very difficult to have.

And so as we decided to name this series, we considered our context. In a world where God can seem distant, can be difficut to reach and at times hard to see, we want to cultivate an intense desire for Him. We want to yearn for God. We long to live our lives in His presence.

And so that is the posture in which we approach the disciplines. And in doing that, the disciplines help us to both cultivate and awaken our desire while simulataneously addressing it. This isn’t about forming routines for the sake of having them, but rather allowing the Spirit of God to dwell deeply within our souls- something we long for whether we are ready to admit it or not.

The disciplines are not about improving ourselves — they are about becoming more awake to God’s presence. And responding to invitation into it.

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” This disciplines give us an answer to the Psalmist’s question.

II. The Means of Grace — Where God Shapes Us

(Resonant with Wesleyan theology)

A. Means of grace defined

Practices through which God works in us — not mechanical rituals — not spiritual performance

Examples:

Public worship

Scripture

Prayer

Works of mercy

We do not use the means of grace to get God’s attention — God uses them to shape our hearts.

B. They form love for God and neighbor

Prayer softens our heart toward God

Service trains our heart toward others

Grace received becomes grace shared

A. Paul’s Desire: “That I May Know Him”

Philippians 3:7–10 NIV

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

1. Paul counts all former achievements as loss

“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (v.7) “…I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (v.8)

His religious success

His reputation

His accomplishments

—all are re-evaluated in light of Christ.

Paul is not rejecting effort — he is rejecting confidence in himself.

2. His aim is deeper union with Christ

“…that I may be found in Him…” (v.9) “…that I may know Him…” (v.10)

Knowing Christ here is not:

intellectual knowledge

doctrinal agreement

moral achievement

It is relational participation in Christ:

knowing His resurrection power (v.10)

sharing in His sufferings (v.10)

Paul’s desire is not self-improvement — it is Christ-centered communion.

B. Discipline as Participation in Grace

Philippians 3:10–12 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

1. Paul “presses on” — but not as one already complete

“Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal…” (v.12)

He is honest about his incompleteness.

Paul refuses:

triumphalism (“I’ve made it”)

defeatism (“I’ll never change”)

Instead — he locates himself in process.

This is the flaw with New Years Resolutions- they all tend to end in either of these outcomes- triumphalism or defeatism. You get to say either you made it or you didn’t. But our faith journey is different- it’s about the process, the journey, the daily choice to draw into the presence of God. Races are about the start and finish, the middle part doesn’t really matter as long as you start when you are supposed and end where you want to- in both rank and location. Spiritual Formation requires us to not focus so much on the starting point and definitely discourages us from creating some sort of finish line. It’s all about the journey in between- the hills, the valleys, the level ground you breeze through, the rock you trip on, all of it- because it is all a means of God drawing you in and speaking directly to the deepest parts of your heart and soul.

2. His effort is a response to Christ’s work in him

“…but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (v.12)

The order matters:

Christ takes hold of Paul — first

Paul presses on — in response

His discipline is not:

striving to earn righteousness (v.9)

self-reliant moral effort

It is active cooperation with grace.

Paul works — because Christ is already at work in him.

C. Spiritual Maturity Is a Journey

Philippians 3:13–14 NIV

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1. Paul refuses to live in the past

“Forgetting what is behind…” (v.13)

He does not:

rest on past successes

remain trapped in past failures

He releases the past because Christ is his future.

2. He strains toward ongoing formation

“…and straining toward what is ahead…” (v.13)

This is the language of:

perseverance

training

forward movement

Spiritual maturity is not instant — it is a long obedience in Christ’s direction.

3. Christ Himself is the goal — not performance

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (v.14)

The prize is not:

recognition

spiritual achievement

personal success

The prize is Christ Himself.

Maturity is not perfectionism — it is continual formation toward Christ.

Transition / Reflection Pivot

Paul’s words in Philippians 3 invite us into an of understanding spiritual growth.

He lets go of every achievement, every credential, every confidence in himself — not because discipline or effort don’t matter, but because they are nothing compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

“Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss… for the sake of Christ.” (v.7)

And when Paul says,

“I want to know Him…” (v.10)

he isn’t describing a faith that is merely intellectual, or moral, or performance-driven.

He is talking about a living, relational communion with Christ — a longing that keeps drawing him forward.

He admits he hasn’t arrived. He hasn’t reached the goal. He is still becoming.

“Not that I have already obtained all this… but I press on…” (v.12)

Paul’s life of faith is not static achievement — it is an ongoing formation shaped by desire.

And this is where the spiritual disciplines fit.

They are not techniques for self-improvement… not spiritual productivity habits… not boxes to check.

They are places — holy spaces in our lives — where this longing for Christ is nurtured, formed, and sustained.

Prayer… Scripture… Silence… Worship… Acts of mercy…

They are not the goal in themselves.

They are means of grace — ways God draws us deeper into His presence.

Over the next several weeks, we’re going to spend time exploring these disciplines together:

Not as rigid routines… not as spiritual ladders to climb…

…but as practices that help us say,

“Lord, I want to know You more.”

Because that is what fuels Paul’s journey.

He presses on not to earn Christ — but because he longs for Christ.

His perseverance is rooted in desire… in yearning… in a thirst for the living God.

And so as we move into a time of reflection, I want to invite us to sit in that same place.

Not asking,

“Have I done enough?” “Have I achieved enough?”

…but asking,

“Do I yearn to know Christ?”

In the hills and the valleys, in the steady seasons and the stumbling ones, God is forming us — drawing us closer to His heart.

As this next song — Breathe (Yearn) — is sung, let it become our prayer:

That beneath every discipline, beneath every practice, beneath every effort…

our deepest desire would be simply this:

“I am desperate for You. I yearn for You, O God.”

Let’s enter this moment with Paul’s words echoing in our hearts —

“That I may know Him.”