Celebration of Discipline—Introduction and Chapter 1
- Boma
- 5 days ago
- 9 min read
Readers' Corner: Exploring Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster
When it comes to personal growth and spiritual development, few books have stood the test of time like Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. This classic work offers a clear and practical guide to cultivating spiritual habits that can transform a Christian's heart towards God.
You can jump to my reflections on the Introduction or Chapter 1:
Every month, for the next few months, I will write about another two chapters from the book. In this post, I will share reflections on the Introduction and Chapter 1, which is enticingly titled Spiritual Disciplines: Door to Liberation. Whether you are new to spiritual disciplines or you want to go deeper, this series will provide thoughtful reflections and actionable suggestions. You can read an overview of the book and information about the author in 'Read Celebration of Discipline with me' . It also explains my reasons for choosing this book and why I opted for two chapters a month.
Please note: these posts are not chapter summaries, but reflections and insights as I read. Writing helps me better process what I read, and I hope these posts will provide you with food for thought. Let's look at Celebration of Discipline: Introduction and Chapter 1.
Reflections on the Introduction
Later editions of Celebration of Discipline include an introduction. The edition I am reading includes an introduction requested by the editor to mark 20 years since the book's first release. (It's the one with the blue cover, pictured). Here, Foster writes about how the book came to be and of his surprise at how well it had done. He did not set out to write a contemporary classic valued by Christians across denominations, decades, and continents.
Sometimes, we skip the introductory text—those pages with roman numerals before page one. Often, we do so to our disadvantage. As someone who aspires to write books, I found Foster's journey to becoming a published author both revelatory and insightful. Even if you are not a writer by gift, you can be encouraged and inspired by the twists and turns that, over many years, led to the writing and publication of the book. It is a glimpse of Romans 8:28 in action, and reminds us that even when we don't realise it, God is working things out for our good. It may seem like our dreams are stalling, but perhaps with hindsight, we will be able to see all things working together for good.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Let's take a closer look at Foster's journey. Foster describes the three triads that led to the writing and publishing of Celebration of Discipline:
Three converging influences
Three empowering catalysts
Three divine providences
This is more than an interesting walk down memory lane; it's revealing. Take the three empowering catalysts, for example. These are people who played four critical roles in his journey to fulfilling God's call to write.
The Anointer: someone who strengthens or empowers you through prayer, laying on of hands, prophetic reassurance, or impartation
The Counsellor: someone who gives wise direction, clarifying guidance, and practical counsel to help you see what to do next (and do it well)
The Supporter: someone who readily offers steady strengthening through encouragement, presence, belief, and practical help that keeps you going over the longer term
The Sponsor: someone who advocates for you and uses their influence to open doors (often behind the scenes)
As I reflected on their roles, I noticed that they demonstrated characteristics of God's Spirit. The Holy Spirit anoints, counsels, strengthens, and advocates for us:
The Holy Spirit anoints and empowers believers for God’s purposes (Luke 4:18; Acts 1:8; 1 John 2:20, 27).
The Holy Spirit leads us into truth and gives us direction (John 16:13; Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:25).
The Holy Spirit supports us by comforting and strengthening hearts. The early church experienced this as encouragement and strengthening (Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
The Holy Spirit is our Helper/Advocate and also intercedes for us (John 14:16–17, 26; Romans 8:26–27).
Noticing this inspired me to pray in these three areas. Perhaps you can too:
Prayer 1:
Ask the Lord to bring people into your life whose words and actions empower, counsel, support, and sponsor you to fulfil all you were created for.
Prayer 2:
Ask the Lord to help you identify and appreciate those who currently play or have played any of these roles in your life. (Perhaps you can do something practical to acknowledge them).
Prayer 3:
Thank God that all things work together for your good, even if you don't notice it happening. Ask for help to trust God to always lead you along the right path and to fulfil His plan for your life, even when it takes longer than hoped.
As I pray about my writing and my life in general, I pray to lean on the Holy Spirit and to rely on His strategies, timing, and guidance.
Action is Necessary
Among other things, the Introduction also stressed the importance of living in the power of what we learn from the Word of God. Or as Foster puts it,
"the necessity of bringing spiritual realities into the press of raw humanity" p. xviii
The role of a Christian is not only to talk about God, but to reflect Him. This is a work of God (not ourselves) that starts on the inside and works its way out until it saturates our attitude, speech, and actions. However, we must be willing, open, and obedient for this to be effective, and the spiritual disciplines help us with this. Remember, this book is subtitled: The Path to Spiritual Growth. The aim is growth, maturity, and formation. This theme is carried further in Chapter 1 and throughout the book because spiritual disciplines are not about knowledge, but transformation.
I was also left with another prayer, perhaps more personal: May I not write, teach, or ask of others more than I allow Christ to do in and through me.
It is possible to know what the Bible teaches without living it out. If we are acquainted with the letter of the Law but not the heart of it, we can become like the Pharisees in the New Testament, whose legalism made following God burdensome. Jesus is the heart of the Word, and the Holy Spirit helps us to see Jesus in the Word. If we try to live by the Word of God without the Spirit of God, we risk becoming legalists who make following God hard for ourselves and others. This is no small thing. Jesus repeatedly warned against it.
Scripture is practical, to be lived, not a mere theory to be wrestled with in the mind or with words. The world, our communities, and we ourselves need the Word in action, the application of the Living Word.
Reflections on Chapter 1: The Spiritual Discipline: Door to Liberation
Chapter 1: The Spiritual Discipline: Door to Liberation introduces the Spiritual Disciplines and tells us why they are needed and what they are. There are important points to note and continue to keep in mind as we progress through the text. One is the reassurance that the Spiritual Disciplines are accessible. They are not for so called super-spiritual or particularly pious Christians. They are not reserved for leaders, pastors, or theologians. They are for everyone and can be part of our everyday lives. They are for you and they are for me. As Foster states:
"The primary requirement is a longing after God" (p. 2)
Longing for God
But what does it mean to long after God? Foster references Psalm 42:
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1,2)
When a deer is overheating, it begins to pant. It makes no mental decision to stick out its tongue or to increase its respiration rate. Rather, the need to cool down automatically produces a physical response. The psalmist recognises that his very soul similarly responds to separation from the living God. Our behaviour is evidence of our need.
Each one of us has an intrinsic desire to have a vital need met. This need is to live in connection with God. We all long for Him. When the psalmist says "my soul thirsts for God, for the living God", he identifies not only his need but, more significantly, the Supreme Solution to his longing: the living God. Many of us, before we were saved and since, do not readily recognise the longing, emptiness, sense of dissatisfaction, or lack of fulfilment we feel as our souls longing for connection with the living God. We might try to meet this need with food, work, relationships, achievements, activity, and more. But if we do not connect to the living God, we will never be truly satisfied.
Interestingly, a range of circumstances can trigger the same biological response, though the need is the same. The deer could be very hot, exhausted from running hard to escape danger, or under severe stress, such as when being chased, injured, or frightened. In such situations, deer become dehydrated, and panting is part of their biological process to address this. It helps them lose heat as moisture evaporates from their tongue and mouth. The deer must then find water to fully alleviate their symptoms. Nothing else will do.
I remember occasions when, as a child, I would tell my mum I was hungry, and she would say, "You're not hungry; you're thirsty". I remember thinking that I should know if I am hungry or thirsty. But when the first drops of water or juice touched my lips, and I began to gulp it down quickly, I knew my mum (as mums often are) was right. She knew the need I was seeking to meet even better than I did. She did not give me what I thought I wanted; she offered what I needed, and I was satisfied.
We do not have to learn to long for God, to thirst for connection with Him. Without God, we are all thirsty, dry, and panting. We do need to pause and pray to direct our longing aright. Otherwise, we will seek satisfaction and fulfilment in the wrong places to our detriment.
But what are the Spiritual Disciplines?
The 12 disciplines that Foster discusses in his book are:
Meditation, prayer, fasting, and study (inward disciplines)
Simplicity, solitude, submission, and service (outward disciplines)
Confession, worship, guidance, and celebration (corporate disciplines)
However, it is important to acknowledge Foster's own note that these are by no means exhaustive. He describes his book as:
"merely one attempt to compile those acts of devotion which the writers of Scripture and the Saints throughout the history of the Church have said were important in experiential faith" (p. 13)
Even more importantly, the Disciplines have no power in and of themselves to make us righteous before God. Nor are they a path to earning His love, favour, blessing or approval. No, God loves us unconditionally, and righteousness is His gift to us that cost Him much but is offered to us freely. That's grace. As Foster puts it:
the Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us (p.7)
This transformation can be called formation, spiritual growth, or maturity. Spiritual Disciplines are the soil where spiritual growth can occur by God's hand. This transformation is internal, and though it will inevitably become visible outwardly, our focus as we practise them is not on the external. God looks at the heart after all. We are prone to celebrating the wrong things. Richard Foster reminds us of the joy that comes from walking the path of 'disciplined grace'. Joy, because it leads us to be changed into ones who can experience true freedom in Christ.
Get More from the Journey
Subscribe to the blog to stay updated on new posts and discussions. You will receive notifications when reflections on the next chapters are posted.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Spiritual growth is often strengthened by community, and your insights can inspire others.
Blessing in Action: Celebration of Discipline—Introduction and Chapter 1
If you have not already, read the Introduction and Chapter 1.
Write a short prayer in response
Schedule time to complete the for study section
Share your reflections with at least one other person
Are You Interested in Joining a Book Club?
I’m hosting a small online book club later this year. It would be:
Online
In the evening (UK time)
Weekly or every other week for around 1 hour or 1 hour and 15 minutes
Open to anyone 18 and over
A space for thoughtful discussion and practical takeaways
If you’d like to know when I share the book choice and dates, you can register your interest. This is not a commitment; it simply helps me gauge interest and means you’ll be first to hear when details are confirmed.
Please note: joining the book club interest list does not add you to my general mailing list (though you’re very welcome to subscribe separately if you’d like).
This post may contain affiliate links—any commission earned helps support this site, at no extra cost to you.
Comments