Many Christians settle for good spiritual practices when God offers something great. Jesus taught that fasting should be a regular discipline, not an occasional practice. Biblical fasting involves abstaining from food to reorient our hunger toward God rather than physical sustenance. Like Old Testament burnt offerings that were completely consumed, fasting represents total surrender to God. Moses and Jesus both experienced transformative 40-day fasts that prepared them for ministry. Starting small with one meal or one day can help beginners incorporate this discipline. Fasting creates space for focused prayer, Scripture reading, and experiencing God's supernatural sustenance in ways food never can.

Jesus declared his mission was not to be served, but to serve and give his life for others. The Greek word for serve means to raise up dust, giving us the true definition of service: positioning someone to be raised through our actions or words. Jesus demonstrated this by healing blind men and welcoming children when society tried to silence them. His serving model flows from compassion rather than obligation, requires accessibility and radical inclusion, and is rooted in selflessness and humility. We cannot serve ourselves and others simultaneously, so we must lay down pride, comfort, and personal advancement to follow his example of raising others up.

True contentment isn't found in accumulating more possessions, but in living generously with what we've already been given. Jesus warns against the dangerous myth that having more will bring satisfaction, as illustrated by the parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns but lost his life that very night. The secret to contentment lies in developing a habit of generosity that flows from awareness of God's gifts to us. This generosity should be practiced in secret to protect our hearts from pride, and extended even to those we feel don't deserve it. When we shift from a mindset of accumulation to stewardship, recognizing that everything belongs to God, we discover the peace and satisfaction our hearts truly seek.

Following Jesus means developing the same habits He had, and Scripture was foundational to everything He did. Jesus regularly engaged with God's word as His custom, turning to it for truth and direction in every situation. According to Paul, Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training us in righteousness. When life's storms come, those who build their lives on God's word will stand firm, while those who don't will fall. The challenge is to make Scripture your go-to source for truth and direction, starting with daily engagement with God's word.

In our noisy, distracted world, solitude stands as one of the most challenging yet transformative spiritual disciplines. Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places after intense ministry, understanding that solitude creates essential space for hearing God's voice. True solitude isn't just being alone - it's intentional time in quiet to be with God, free from distractions like podcasts, music, and mental chatter. Henri Nouwen called solitude the furnace of transformation, where God doesn't just strengthen who we are but transforms us into who He wants us to become. Through biblical examples like David facing Goliath and Elijah receiving God's purpose, we see that solitude teaches us God's voice, builds trust, and reveals His plans for our lives.

Following Jesus requires intentional spiritual habits, not minimal effort. Jesus made prayer His foundation for everything, using it to maintain His relationship with God the Father. Through the parable of the sower, Jesus explains how different heart conditions affect our ability to receive and grow in God's word. Prayer prepares the soil of our hearts by creating surrender, protecting against doubt and past hurts, and keeping our focus on Jesus rather than ourselves. When we approach God's word with pure hearts through consistent prayer, Jesus promises exponential spiritual growth.

Following Jesus requires more than seeking convenience and blessings. In John 6, Jesus confronted crowds who followed Him only for personal benefits, revealing that true discipleship demands complete surrender. Unlike other rabbis who chose only the elite, Jesus invites everyone to follow Him, but this means denying ourselves and taking up our cross. Real following involves spending time with Jesus, becoming like Him in character, and doing what He did in serving others. This isn't about fitting Jesus into our existing lives, but surrendering to His transformative way of life.