I recently took a 2-day bike trip with a friend – the pedalling kind, not the motor assisted kind. It was our first attempt at going longer distances to see if we want to take on an extended trip in the future. It was a great experience.

When you bike 115km each day through back roads, by farms with fields in full growth, you relax, take in the beauty around you and have an opportunity to talk about all kinds of topics.

As is my norm, one of the questions I enjoy asking is this: “how is your journey of faith these days?” The response to this question reveals so much about a person. Interestingly, sometimes people have no idea what to say. They hum and haw and give what I would call “pat answers”, as though they are trying to find the “right” answer. In these case, you realize that they have probably never done much in the way of intentionally engaging with Christ and so really don’t know what the question is asking.

In the case of my friend, I knew that this wasn’t the situation, but we hadn’t talked about this question previously so I wanted to know where he was during this season of life. The great thing about asking this question on a 115km bike ride is that we have all the time necessary to unpack the answer, we had nowhere to go but to be with each other, like it or not.

His answer was honest – “I’m in a lull” he said. Now I’m not sure about you, but I could relate to his answer – been there, done that – and I’ll probably get back there again. And as I thought about his response over the next few weeks, I realized that there are two responses that I typically get when things aren’t where they want them to be and that each response requires a unique approach in the journey of discipleship.

The two responses are “lull” and “stuck”. You may use other words, but essentially, these are the two that I’ve encountered.

To be in a spiritual lull implies that you’ve gotten away from what has worked in the past. You’ve lost your spiritual routines, the rhythms that made your relationship with Christ vibrant and alive, where learning took place and you were challenged to make changes in your thinking and your actions. You know what to do, you just aren’t doing it.

There’s no overriding reason as to why this took place. If you look back you know that you didn’t intentionally walk away from these routines, in fact all you can really say is that it happened and you’re really not sure why.

As one who disciples others, your role in this circumstance is to encourage them to get back to what they know. To have them reflect on what their relationship with Christ was like when they were engaging in these routines and to have them yearn for that once again. If the lull goes on to long and you have a good relationship with that individual, you may have the courage to move from the “carrot” approach to the “stick” approach. However in all of this, you know and the person knows what they need to do to get out of the lull – it’s simply time to get back in the game.

Now be “stuck” is a completely different matter. When I come across someone who is stuck, I realize that the desire to grow is there, that they want to deepen their relationship with Jesus, they simply don’t know how. They don’t have the tools necessary to make it happen, no one has given them the time to help them develop any routines that will get them unstuck.

In these circumstances, this is where your fun can start. If they are willing to be led, then all I can say is “Let the discipling relationship begin.” You have some tools that you can give them. You can help them develop a regular quiet time. You can help them memorize and reflect on scripture. You can teach them how to pray in new and meaningful ways. You can step out and serve with them so that they can discover their gifts and their role in the body of Christ. You can help to get them unstuck.

As one who disciples others, always be aware of the situation you are dealing with – a person experiencing a lull versus someone who is stuck are two different zones of life. Reflect on each circumstance, know when to simply encourage, know when you may need to challenge, and know when you are required to come alongside to teach and train a person and provide them with the necessary tools so that they will know how to feed themselves. And one day they will also do the same with others. Who knows, perhaps one day they will encourage you when you are in a lull.

Blessings on this journey of discipling others.

For the kingdom.

As I got out of bed this morning at 6:00am I began my routine. I went downstairs and put water in the kettle and plugged it in. I got the mug ready and placed the loose leaf tea (Earl Grey Suave) from David’s Tea in the stainless steel filter that sits over the mug. I picked up my NLT bible and my two journals and sat down at the dining room table. All was quiet as I opened up to 1 Peter 2 where I am currently reading and reflecting. I opened up my first journal where I write down my thoughts from the scripture that I am reading. All was at peace as I mentally prepared to receive whatever was there for me this morning. The next hour was a time for me to hear from God, and for me to speak to God.

Once my scripture reading and reflecting was complete, I opened up my personal journal to write about the previous day and what is coming up this day. This journal often turns into written prayers as I seek wisdom, offer thanks or confess a failure.

And although the time, place and rhythm has changed during different seasons of my life, I can’t help but claim these times, places and rhythms and declare them as sacred for me – this has become essential if I am to maintain a relationship with God that is life-giving.

And please understand, I never allow these practices to be worshipped in and of themselves. I will change them up if they are no longer working for whatever reason. However I also realize that sometimes I simply need to “keep on keeping on” for the sake of my own growth and not allow my feelings or lack of motivation to be the driving force behind changing it up always either. Interestingly, if I go away for a vacation, I quickly try to find the sacred time, place and rhythm that will work for that brief time period.

And not only does this rhythm build into my life and keep me from wandering down self-centred paths,   I’ve discovered that it makes a statement to my family that I was not expecting.

I recall a situation about 8 years ago when I was journaling, sitting on the couch in our living room in the early evening. My mother called and my son answered the phone. During the conversation she must have asked him what I was doing. As a blessing to me, I believe that God allowed me to hear his reply. “He’s writing in his journal,” he said to her. “He always does that.”

I wish that I could declare to you that I have always maintained these times, places and rhythms, I have not. I have had seasons where I have stumbled through sporadic times with God, where the journal seldom came out, where the bible was read far too infrequently, and when my prayers were few and far between. And yet I can say that, having lived through many spiritual ups and downs over the years, I will fight for and search out these times, places and rhythms with more fervour than ever. I have come to realize that if I don’t, I will find myself limping through life, having shallow relationships, becoming increasingly selfish and self-absorbed, and becoming confident in things that ultimately have no value and that will always eventually disappoint.

As leaders of others, we are modelling what it means to seek God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. I encourage you to find your sacred time, sacred place and sacred rhythm. And don’t let anything get in its way. You will never regret this.

For the kingdom.