Chapter 2: From Burden to Joy

Chapter two in the book focuses on some of the fundamental disciplines of a Christian.
I really enjoy this chapter because it is very personal to me. Well, I can say many of the chapters have a personal relevance but this one deals with the disciplines that really got me in trouble as a child.

In writing this chapter, I went back to the roots of my life of prayer, worship and fasting, which took place in my elementary years. It is fun to see my parents' approach to instilling disciplines in my life as a child and also my resistance to their approach.

I strive to make believers aware of how our prayer and fasting often become legalistic. I share of how prayer and fasting became very burdensome to me in my childhood years and try to use that as a lesson to help us make adjustments.

Christians get to the point where their prayer, their bible reading and all the other spiritual discipines become a bore as well as a great chore. Interestingly enough many put their head down and continue pushing forward, thinking that if they give God a little extra, the Lord will be impressed.

This chapter has the purpose of inspiring us to see our life of prayer, our bible reading and our fasting; as great privilleges and opportunities to fellowship with God and know Him better. It gives us some practical pointers on how to pray and study the Word so that it would be refreshing and relevant.

Instead of making our devotion to God a burdensome experience we need to start approaching it with the mindset of a child. We need to simplify our approach to prayer and bible reading so that we can truly meet with God.

Lastly, we will be challenged to trust God. One of the fundamental problems of legalists is that they try hard to save themselves. We will point out our responsibility as believers, but at the same time, challenge us to trust God to save us, not our spiritual disciplines or our abilities.