Spiritual Maximizers:

for Growth in Christlikeness

Spiritual maximizers help me be all I can be. The world is full of maximizers for my body.

Breasts too small? Get implants.

Teeth yellow? Get whiteners.

Muscles too small? Take supplements.

Too fat? Go on a diet. Take a pill.

Face sagging? Have surgery.

Eyelashes too short? Use mascara.

Too short? Wear platform shoes.

Too unprofessional looking? Wear a power tie.

Can't perform in the bedroom? Take viagra.

Countless billions of dollars are spent each year on body maximizers. I am a spiritual being first and foremost. When my body dies, my soul lives on. God has designed me to maximize my spiritual being.

God understands the second law of thermodynamics, all things left to themselves entropy. After all, He did create it. Left to myself, I will become less Christlike, not more. Therefore, He has provided some maximizers . Some practical discipleship maximizers to make me more Christlike.

For twenty centuries followers of Jesus Christ have been practicing exercises which they believe will help them maximize their potential to become more like their leader, Jesus. (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Common Practical Discipleship Spiritual Maximizers

studying the Book of God (Bible study);

telling God who He is (worship);

partying because of what God has done for us (celebration);

helping others (service);

talking to God (prayer);

gathering with other Christians to participate and share with them (fellowship);

telling God about the bad things we do (confession);

choosing to do what God asks of us (submission and obedience);

telling others about what Jesus has done (evangelism);

among others.

Some of the better known spiritual maximizers of self-denial include:

being alone with God with out the distraction of others (solitude);

choosing not to speak with others (silence);

choosing not to eat food (fasting);

choosing not to spend money (frugality);

choosing not to engage in sexual activity (chastity);

choosing not to tell others about the activities you do for God (secrecy);

choosing to give up something to God to demonstrate how important He is to you (sacrifice);

among others.

These two lists were provided by Dallas Willard in his book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives.”

Less Common, but Equally Effective, Spiritual Maximizers

I have some additional maximizer exercises. I believe they can provide practical benefit to the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ attempting to grow in godliness.

Some of these maximizers are:

Running to Win

Being Equally Yoked

Master Building

Amazement

Morphing

Very Early in the Morning

Glorying in Your Tribulations

Exercising Naked

Hyper Nike

Filled With The Spirit

Live Carefully

Sabbathing

Asking Questions

Endurance

Getting Crowns

among many, many others

Return to Practical-Discipleship.com

Revised on May 17, 2009