Last week I wrote about the value of assessment–finding out if we are healthy enough to face what we are about to encounter. Since we don’t know what that is, we need to be sure we are as healthy as we can be. And of course, I mean primarily spiritual health (which in my opinion includes what we would call emotional health), not just physical health.
Over the next week I am going to write a number of posts (assuming the Lord lets me:-))–one each day. Today, I want to write about what is Essential. Then, each day over the next week I will write about the seven Essentials–those things necessary to spiritual health and life. We’ll discuss what each is, how to “assess” them in our own life, and how to build strength in each Essential.
So, why “Essentials”? As you’ll see in the next posts these are pretty obvious and well known aspects of spiritual life. You will recognize each one, and probably say “Of course”. Historically they have been called “Spiritual Disciplines” or “Habits of a Disciple”–both good terms. But they miss one important thing. These aren’t optional. They aren’t just good ideas. They aren’t suggestions–or even guidelines for being spiritually strong instead of “just Christian”. They are essential to our life.
Think of a plant. Each plant requires various things: light, water, temperature, soil, nutrients–and all the right kind, the right amount, the right delivery. Fail to provide these things and the plant will die (witness the lack of plant life in my office). Provide them–in the way they need–and they will thrive. This isn’t because of what we do–it is because God built the need–and the response–into their DNA.
God has built the need for the essentials into our “spiritual DNA”. When we provide the things that are essential to our growth, we grow–we even thrive. We don’t know what is going to happen in, or to, our lives tomorrow. But we can know that we are strong enough to face it, and to be faithful no matter what. I invite you to join me in looking at what is essential to our life, beginning tomorrow.
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