Below I discuss my key take-aways, themes, and ideas drawn from the book.
MEDITATION is “the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His word” (p. 17). It is about creating space to give Christ the opportunity to speak into our hearts and desires. God made the human mind to meditate on scripture, the inner self, creation and on real events in the world with the potential gain of prophetic insight.
PRAYER involves both listening and intercession. In fact, “listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession.” He quotes Kierkegaard, “A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening.”((Pg 39: Soren Kierkegaard, Christian Discourses, trans. Walter Lowie (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1940), p. 324.)) The prayer of guidance is constant and precedes the prayer of intercession. Our intercessions are not with acquiescence and resignation, merely accepting that the way things are is the will of God. This thinking is closer to stoic philosophy than biblical theology. Rather, compassion leads us to intercede for others with an expectation to see God’s will carried out. It is the inward practices of meditation, prayer and fasting that lend itself to the outward discipline of solitude which is also a gift in Christ.
SIMPLICITY comes from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:33. To practice the discipline of simplicity we must first see everything we have as a gift from God, that our well-being is in His hands, and this allows us to see our goods as available for others. Those who embody simplicity are known for buying things for usefulness rather than status. They will reject anything that produces addiction and regularly give things away. They refuse to let media marketing tell them what they need. They learn to enjoy things without owning them and have a deeper appreciation for God’s creation. Ultimately, they “shun anything that distracts from seeking first the kingdom of God” (p. 95).
SUBMISSION frees us from the toxic burden of always needing to get our own way (p. 111). The discipline of submission is to let go. Inherently, submission brings us to service. Foster references Jesus' washing of the disciples' feet saying, “The risen Christ beckons us to the ministry of the towel” (p. 140).
CONFESSION is effective only when we seek deliverance from sin. “We must desire to be conquered and ruled by God, or if we do not desire it, to desire to desire it” (p. 52).
WORSHIP can have many different forms but “we have not worshiped the Lord until Spirit touches spirit." (p. 159) The Hebrew Bible describes worship in physical terms. To worship literally means to prostrate. To bless means to kneel, and thanksgiving refers to an extension of the hand (p. 169). “If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship. To stand before the Holy One of eternity is to change” (p. 173).
GUIDANCE comes to us in many forms, through prayer, scripture, and community. Regarding guidance through community, Virgil Vogt has said, “If you cannot listen to your brother, you cannot listen to the Holy Spirit.”((Dave and Neta Jackson, Living Together in a World Falling Apart (Carol Stream, IL.: Creation House, 1974), p. 101)) Christians are to use prayer and scripture synonymously as “the one Spirit will never lead in opposition to the written Word that he inspired” (p. 188).
CELEBRATION characterizes the heart of Christ and should be in the heart of His followers. “Celebration is central to all the Spiritual Disciplines. Without a joyful spirit of festivity the Disciplines become dull, death-breathing tools in the hands of modern Pharisees. Every discipline should be characterized by carefree gaiety and a sense of thanksgiving” (p. 191) The most important part of celebration is that it saves us from taking ourselves too seriously.