Please allow me to share my top three spiritual disciplines:
Number One: Read a chapter of Proverbs each day. God blessed King Solomon with divine wisdom and knowledge. That wisdom and knowledge is distilled into the 31 chapters of Proverbs. We have 31 days in the longest month. Read one chapter a day for each day of the month. On the 1st of the month, read Proverbs chapter one. On the 2nd of the month, read Proverbs chapter two, and so on. If you happen to miss a day, don't sweat it; just pick up the next day. It only takes six minutes max, but it will change your life! If we all did this, it would transform our country. "A proverb a day will show America the way!" Why do I say this? Because by reading a chapter of Proverbs daily, we will know and honor the way of the righteous, and that will help us elect leaders who know and honor the way of the righteous, and that will transform our country.
Number Two: Practice the presence of God. Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century friar, modeled this technique for us. While conducting his everyday duties, he consciously cultivated a keen awareness of God's presence. In Scripture, we're told to pray without ceasing, and to meditate on the Word day and night. But how can we do that? By focusing and fellowshipping with the living Lord. Commune with the Most High. Ask for wisdom and understanding. Listen for His voice. As you make this a habit, you'll find even the so-called mundane things of life taking on more spirit and adventure.
Number Three: Exercise mental and physical discipline. Journalist Daniel Akst shared the following: "Be systematically heroic in little unnecessary points, do every day or two something for no other reason than its difficulty, so that, when the hour of need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved or untrained to stand the test." That's sound advise for soldiers of the cross. Spiritual mentor A.W. Tozer added: "We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the stings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not disciplined?"
"The fruit of the Spirit is ... self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). There are those "whose God is their belly," "who mind earthly things," and "whose end is destruction" (Philippians 3:19). However, "every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible [crown]" (1 Corinthians 9:25)!
I contend if you bridle your tongue, that will aid in subduing many other impulses. "Anyone who doesn't stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also" (James 3:2)!
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!