That sounds contradictory. The spiritual life is about God working in me. God does the work, I respond...
But it's hard work. I'm not spiritual. I am selfish, distracted, full of worry, ambitious to accomplish, to please, to hit the home run.
Discipline is the other side of discipleship. The practice of a spiritual discipline makes me more sensitive to the small, gentle voice of God. Solitude is creating a time and place for God alone. It is a fight to keep everything else out, so that I can notice God's presence and still, small voice.
Now more than ever we have so little solitude. An endless supply of entertainment and distraction and learning is available at our fingertips (literally through touch screen devices, mice, remotes, and keyboards). There is no downtime. I must create it. My soul will shrivel to death without it. Hebrews 5:11-14 reminds us that we are called to move from milk (beginnings) to solid food (maturity in our faith and practice). Hebrews 6:1-8 reminds us that if we don't move to maturity and instead fall away, it is possibly impossible to return. Whether that means we can never return or rather that it is extremely hard, it is better to remain in Christ and grow and produce a useful crop.
I needed this reminder. For some more humble thoughts take a listen at: http://salem.ne.us.mennonite.net/Worship under the sermon audio for "solid food - useful crop".
