If you want to live a spiritual life, and really know God in personal experience, it takes a change of behavior. Habits can help us or they can hinder us. Here are five habits to help us.
1. Prayer
The first habit is prayer. Most Christians don’t pray on a regular basis. It’s important to form a routine of prayer. We should at least have a prayer time every morning and evening.
My personal suggestion is that you use the Book of Common Prayer (1979). In it you’ll find devotions for individuals. This would be a great thing to do everyday. At least do the morning and evening prayers. There’s also an online version of this as well by Forward Movement.
Another thing that I do is I use a prayer rope and do the Jesus prayer. I do 100 Jesus prayers at least once a day. After I do the Jesus prayer, I sit in the presence of God and open my heart to him. This sometimes leads me into contemplation.
2. Worship
Another daily habit would be worship. By this I mean verbal or singing praises and thanksgivings to God. I personally like praise and worship music.
3. Reading
Another daily practice should be some kind of reading. By that, of course, I mean spiritual reading. This should be of the Bible or other spiritual masters.
To read devotionally means to slow down and really soak in what you’re reading. Ponder the words, meditate upon it. Sometimes the most meaningful reading is reading very little, but reading with depth.
To help you in this process, I suggest you buy the book “Let Go” by Francois Fenelon. And read only one chapter a day. But read it slowly, very slowly. Read it if it was written directly to you.
4. Contemplation
Another daily practice should be contemplation. By that I mean you should take moments where you sit quietly in the presence of God. This is usually best after prayer or worship. Just sit and listen to God.
In Eastern spiritual practices this is called meditation. But in Christianity it’s called contemplation. It is about becoming mindfully aware of the presence of God within you, around you.
In order to become aware, quiet the mind through the Jesus prayer or mindfully following your breath. Just sit in the stillness. Open your awareness. God’s presence is like the rays of the sun, it is an invisible warmth and expansion of awaeness.
5. Work
And lastly, you should do some kind of moderate work regularly. For many of us, this is our job. But if you have a mental job, you should add in some walking or exercise. I’m lucky, in my job. I walk several miles everyday.
And if you’re retired, you should find something to do to exercise your body. Whether that means going for a walk, playing golf, or exercising in a gym. Physical activity is important.
Conclusion
Well there you have, five things mystics do everyday. These will help you to grow spiritually, and draw you into oneness with God. Make it your purpose to please God in all you think, say, or do. May God increase and you decrease.
- Five Things Mystics Do Every Day - June 20, 2025
- Asceticism and Mysticism - June 19, 2025
- Hesychasm and Contemplation - June 18, 2025
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