Spirituality is lived belief. When we pray, worship, or reach out to our neighbors, we live out our beliefs. Our beliefs structure our spirituality like skin stretched over the bones of our bodies.
These beliefs start with faith in God the Father through Jesus Christ as revealed through the Holy Spirit in scripture, in the church, and in daily life. Our Trinitarian theology orders our beliefs. Without a coherent theology, we lose our identity in space and time having no map or compass to guide us on our way. In the end, we focus on ourselves, not God.
Christian spirituality starts with God, not with us.
Prayers takes the form of 50 prayers taken from A Christian Guide to Spirituality.
Reading A Christian Guide to Spirituality will help readers understand Christian spirituality better and nurture their faith. There is no such thing as quality time with the Lord; there is only time. The living God speaks to us in many ways, but especially through scripture. These three sources cited (Apostle's Creed, Lord's Prayer, and Ten Commandments) are commonly called the "rule of faith" (regula fidei) and were utilized for nearly two millennia as a means to apprentice the faith. These sources are the heart of the confessions of most Christian faith communities and denominations.
Hear the words; walk the steps; experience the joy!
Autorentext
The author, Stephen W. Hiemstra (MDiv, PhD) is a slave of Christ, husband, father, tentmaker, writer, and speaker. He lives with Maryam, his wife of more than thirty years in Centreville, Virginia and they have three grown children.
Inhalt
FOREWORD PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION DAY 1: Why is spirituality important? DAY 2: Who is God? DAY 3: Who are we? DAY 4: What should we do? DAY 5: How do we know?
THE APOSTLE'S CREED DAY 6: What do you believe about God? DAY 7: Almighty Creator DAY 8: Jesus Christ DAY 9: Holy Conception DAY 10: Suffering DAY 11: Hell DAY 12: Resurrection DAY 13: Ascension DAY 14: Judgment DAY 15: The Holy Spirit DAY 16: The Holy Catholic Church DAY 17: The Communion of Saints DAY 18: Forgiveness of Sins DAY 19: Resurrection of the Body DAY 20: Everlasting Life
THE LORD'S PRAYER DAY 21: What is your attitude in prayer? DAY 22: Our Heavenly Father DAY 23: Praise the Name DAY 24: On Earth as in Heaven DAY 25: God's Will Be Done DAY 26: Give Us Daily Bread DAY 27: You Forgive; We Forgive DAY 28: Temptation and Evil DAY 29: Doxology
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS DAY 30: The Ten Commandments DAY 31: No Other Gods (First Commandment) DAY 32: No Images (Second Commandment) DAY 33: Honor The Name (Third Commandment) DAY 34: Keep The Sabbath Holy (Fourth Commandment) DAY35: Honor Your Parents (Fifth Commandment) 126 DAY 36: Do Not murder (Sixth Commandment) 130 DAY 37: Do Not Commit Adultery (Seventh Commandment) DAY 38: Do Not Steal (Eighth Commandment) DAY 39: Do Not Lie (Ninth Commandment) DAY 40: Do Not Covet (Tenth Commandment)
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES DAY 41: Why is music an important spiritual discipline? DAY 42: Why devote time to daily prayer? DAY 43: Why exercise? DAY 44: Why is work a spiritual discipline? DAY 45: What is spiritual about marriage and family? DAY 46: Why participate in a small group? DAY 47: Why Sabbath rest? DAY 48: What is worship?
CONCLUSIONS DAY 49: What are the big questions of the faith? DAY 50: How do we nurture our walk with the Lord?
REFERENCES ABOUT THE AUTHOR AFTERWORD