The Discipline of Celebration

The Discipline of Celebration

Psalm 103:1-5; Matthew 6:31-34; Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:4

 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalm 103:1-5)

 “Do not be anxious then saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’  For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:31-34)

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23)

 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Many reject the Christian life because they see it as a boring and mundane existence that emphasizes the keeping of rules (commandments) and the rejection of anything that might be fun or pleasurable.  Foster points out that the discipline of celebration keeps the other disciplines from degenerating into “dull and death breathing tools in the hands of modern day Pharisees.”  We must work at emphasizing the joy that is ours, at least potentially, by virtue of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Life is to be celebrated and enjoyed not endured.  Consider also the following.

•  The focus of the Christian life, and the disciplines, is abiding in Christ and allowing His Word to abide in us.  This means that we will not only understand God’s Word but also that we will put it into practice.  Obedience to Christ, the Word of God, brings about joy in the Christian life.

• Our anxiety over the many concerns of life robs us of the joy that should be ours each and every day.  The only antidote is to trust in Christ to care for our every need whether it is physical, spiritual or emotional.  If we worry and allow ourselves to become anxious we will never experience true joy in living.

• Through prayer we can make our requests to God, with thanksgiving, with the knowledge and assurance that God will answer in a way that is commensurate with our best interests.  Such knowledge eliminates anxiety and allows for the peace of God to guard our hearts.

• Engage in singing, dancing and shouting at every opportunity.

• Make laughter an integral part of daily life.

• Allow your imagination to occasionally run wild.

• Turn birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and pay raises into times of celebration and thanksgiving.

• Celebrate cultural holidays (Christmas, Easter, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July) and really do them up right.

1. Are you living in complete obedience to the will of God as you currently understand it?

2. What concerns or fears cause you to become anxious or to worry?

3. Have you ever experienced the joy of obedience?  What happened or what was it like?

4. What are some ways that you can build celebration into your lives?

 

1. Review them all and ask the Lord to help you choose 2-3 that He would have you integrate into your life at this time.

2. Pray for discernment, courage and strength for the will to make lifestyle changes as directed by the Holy Spirit.

3. Begin with reasonable goals and expectations, knowing that life is a journey.

4. Strive for consistency of time and place, recognizing there will be spiritual resistance.

5. Find a partner that will encourage you and hold you accountable.

6. Seek to make the disciplines a lifestyle instead of an event.

7. Keep a journal to record your experiences with God.

 

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