I’m reading a challenging and refreshing book right now by Chuck Swindoll. It’s entitled, So, You Want to Be Like Christ? The back cover sums up very well what Dr. Swindoll communicates through the pages of this powerful hardback. Below is an excerpt from the back cover. Just these words alone are enough to make me say I’m hitting the spiritual “gym” in 2007 and getting myself in shape!

In a world bent on enticing us away from growing deeper in love with Christ, how on earth do we become more godly? …Chuck Swindoll says, “The secret lies in our returning to the basic disciplines of Christ. Religion won’t cut it! We live in a spiritual hothouse where we talk religious talk, send out religious letters, write religious pamphlets, and do religious Bible studies. It’s so easy to become religious instead of godly.”
The Bible says we must “discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness.” You really want to be like Christ? Here are eight essential disciplines to get you there:

• Intimacy: Deepening Our Lives
• Simplicity: Uncluttering Our Minds
• Silence and Solitude: Slowing Our Pace
• Surrender: Releasing Our Grip
• Prayer: Calling Out
• Humility: Bowing Low
• Self-control: Holding Back
• Sacrifice: Giving Over

In the process of developing these eight essential disciiplines in your life, your relationship with Christ will flourish, and you will become more godly. They go hand in hand.

• Excerpt from So, You Want to Be Like Christ by Charles R. Swindoll, (c) 2005 Charles R. Swindoll. Published by W Publishing Group