The Holy Spirit works in us to will and to do, but it seems his work of both motivating and enabling is deeply related to our earnest efforts to desire and do his will (Col 1:29). Instead of trying to find the starting point of the circle, let us simply remember that what Spirit-prompted flames of desire are present need to be fanned into flame by disciplined, dependent obedience.

Many devotional writers through the centuries have not only emphasised the disciplines variously considered, but discipline itself: the importance of subduing the flesh, mortifying the body’s inclinations, or redeeming the time. Certainly, no one makes spiritual progress unless the body is brought into submission (1 Cor 9:27), temperance is exercised, our time carefully measured and used and the soul trained in godliness. Unless we are careful stewards of our time, sleep and physical and emotional states, communion with God will usually be crowded out. None of the nurturing structures we will consider will have any value unless the chaotic and the formless in our natures are ordered and subdued.

Yet, we often fall into opposite ditches on this matter of discipline. The one ditch tells us that all discipline that does not come from a throbbing heart of desire is dead formalism, and heartless duty-bound law-keeping. Adherents of this view are frequently non-starters, waiting for desires to ignite in the green wood of their immature souls.

The other ditch tells us that bodily discipline is a sweetness of its own, and if we would only ignore our wayward desires, embrace our obligations and commit to rigid discipline, we’d enter into a new state of disciplined bliss. Devotees of this way end up either veering over into the other ditch in sheer rebellious frustration, or developing a thick layer of pride, as their will-worship forbids worship of the true kind (Col 2:23).

Instead of this approach, we must recognise that some spiritual sweat will be needed, but sweat is not its own reward. Instead, our desire for communion, combined with our awareness that much in us is still disorderly and warring against that desire will lead us to combine self-denial and seeking. Ask any disciplined man his secret, and he will tell you that necessity and desire married to produce the child of discipline.

The Holy Spirit works in us to will and to do, but it seems his work of both motivating and enabling is deeply related to our earnest efforts to desire and do his will (Col 1:29). Instead of trying to find the starting point of the circle, let us simply remember that what Spirit-prompted flames of desire are present need to be fanned into flame by disciplined, dependent obedience.The organic life of abiding in the vine also needs a trellis to grow on, and disciplines provide such a trellis.

What sort of structures should we build to provide opportunity to commune, and teach us how to commune?

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