PLGRM

1. Walk 30 minutes a day.

No kidding. And this is a minimum dose. What? You thought the spiritual life wasn’t going to involve your body? Did you forget that God chose to become human in a body?

I’ve never met a spiritual mature person who wasn’t paying attention to how they treated their body. When our body is out of whack, we have a hard time controlling our emotions and thinking properly. Our body is the foundation of our spiritual life. Treat it well.

2. Read your Bible.

The words we use affect and inform how we see the world. We need good words in our heads. Thankfully, the Bible is full of really great words. The Bible shows us not what to think but how to think.

Artificial Intelligence is not in the Bible, but words about Christian ethics are. And ethics are what is needed right now in order to know how to live in this world. I want our ethics informed by the life of Jesus, don’t you? Heck, I want my LIFE informed by the life of Jesus!

If we don’t know Bible words, we don’t have a chance of maneuvering this world according to Grace, Peace, Love, and Justice.

3. Sit Down and Shut Up.

This is the best prayer advice I’ve ever gotten.

Thomas Keating says “God’s first language is silence.” If we want to connect to God, we have to stop jabbering on.

Sit down for 5-20 minutes a day, close your eyes (or don’t), and pay attention to your breath. If you notice you’ve started thinking of other things, gently go back to focusing in your breath. Don’t beat yourself up. It’s not a competition. I promise, this practice will increase your capacity to be more gracious, kind, and loving. I promise you.