The everyday habits that put you in the path of God’s grace.
“Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.”
1 Timothy 4:7–8 · ESV
A reading guide from The ChurchHitchcock, TX
Spiritual DisciplinesThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
First, the heart
Habits that shape a life.
Spiritual disciplines aren’t a checklist to earn God’s approval. You already have that in Christ. They’re more like a trellis — a structure that puts you in the place where growth happens.
A farmer can’t make a plant grow, but he can plant, water, and weed. These practices are how we tend the soil of our hearts and stay close to the One who gives the growth.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you.”
John 15:4 · ESV
The Church01
Spiritual DisciplinesThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
The practices
Six places to start.
You don’t need all six at once. Pick one, practice it until it’s a rhythm, then add another.
Prayer01 · Matthew 6:6Talking and listening to God. Not performance — presence. Start with honesty, not eloquence.
Scripture02 · Psalm 1:2Reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word. Let it read you as much as you read it.
Fasting03 · Matthew 6:16–18Going without food (or something else) to feast on God. Hunger becomes a prayer.
Solitude & silence04 · Mark 1:35Stepping away from noise and crowds to be alone with God, like Jesus often did.
Sabbath & rest05 · Exodus 20:8–10One day to stop, delight, and remember you are not God — and that He holds it all.
Generosity06 · 2 Corinthians 9:7Giving your time, money, and attention freely. It loosens money’s grip and grows the heart.
The Church01
Spiritual DisciplinesThe Church · Hitchcock, TX
How to begin
Start small. Stay consistent.
Spiritual growth is slow, ordinary, and worth it. Don’t despise small beginnings.
Pick one, not six.
Choose a single discipline for the next month. Depth beats breadth when you’re starting out.
Attach it to a rhythm.
Tie the new habit to something you already do daily. Anchors beat willpower.
Aim for small and repeatable.
Five faithful minutes a day forms a life. An ambitious plan you abandon forms nothing.
Expect resistance.
The days you least feel like showing up are often the days you most need to. Show up anyway.
Don’t measure by feelings.
Some days will feel dry. Faithfulness, not feeling, is the point. The fruit comes in time.
Take a minute
Pick one discipline from the list. Decide exactly when and where you’ll practice it tomorrow, and write it down. Specific beats sincere.
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Better together
You’ll grow faster together.
Disciplines were never meant to be solo. The early church practiced them shoulder to shoulder — praying, fasting, and feasting on the Word as one.
Find a few others who want to grow, and grow together. We can help you get connected.