YouVersion Logo
Search Icon

Pray the WordSample

Pray the Word

DAY 19 OF 21

A Disciplined Pursuit of God

There have been seasons in my life, even as a pastor, where I have lacked discipline—discipline in seeking God, discipline in his Word, discipline in prayer, discipline in study and meditation, discipline in fasting. And when I have lacked discipline, it has had a disastrous effect, not only on my life and my relationship with God, but also on others around me.

Growth in spiritual disciplines will not happen accidentally. We must be intentional, and our sinful flesh will often resist it. That’s why we need God to help us. We don’t want to be led into “folly,” as this verse puts it, but rather to carry out our lives in a disciplined pursuit of God.

When we think of spiritual disciplines, we shouldn’t think of rigid, obligatory, dutiful discipline. There’s no set amount of time required for prayer and the Word, or for any other discipline. We don’t do it because we have to. We should have a disciplined pursuit of God because we want to.

The book of Proverbs repeatedly encourages us to seek wisdom, to keep to the right path, to trust the Lord, and to avoid evil. All of that requires discipline and intentionality and a desire to please God. We don’t want to wander from him into evil. We don’t want to live foolish lives. We don’t want to die for lack of discipline.

Prayer

God, we pray for discipline in our lives. We pray for a disciplined pursuit of you. We pray that by your Spirit you would strengthen us to disciplined praying, reading, studying, and meditating on your Word. Give us the discipline to gather together with the body of Christ for worship and fellowship. God, help us to be disciplined in our obedience to all these things that you’ve called us to in your Word.

As we do these things, help us not to drift into folly to be led astray into evil. We don’t want to die for lack of discipline. God, we pray that you would help us to be disciplined by your grace, for our good and for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture

Day 18Day 20

About this Plan

Pray the Word

Spending regular time in God’s Word and in prayer is critical if we want to know God and live lives that glorify him. That’s why each day of this 21-day plan is based on Scripture and is aimed at fueling your desire to feast on God’s Word and depend on him wholeheartedly in prayer. This plan is adapted from David Platt’s daily podcast titled, Pray the Word.

More

We would like to thank Radical for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://radical.net/