Dictionary.com lists three definitions for the verb “discipline”, all of which are important in growing spiritual fruit in our lives:
- “to train by instruction and exercise; drill.”
- “to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.”
- “to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.”
As Christians seeking to honor God with our lives and our businesses, spiritual disciplines are activities we regularly undertake to develop spiritual knowledge, order and obedience in our lives. We should welcome correction as we seek spiritual maturity.
In his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney defines spiritual disciplines as “those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times.”