I have been doing a very poor job of getting enough sleep lately. Probably the biggest problem I have with my Parkinson’s is getting a good nights sleep, because when I move while sleeping the muscle pain wakes me up. Because I don’t sleep well I tend to just not go to bed, and after a while, I start having consequences from that bad discipline, which is mostly just groggy thinking and fatigue. I got up at 4:30 am and went to the start of the five days of prayer this morning, after sleeping for three hours, but I left after one hour. I went home, took a sleeping pill, some Parkinson’s medication, some Ibuprofen, slept six hours straight, and now I am feeling good.

Sleep is obviously a basic human, physical need that needs to happen systematically or we don’t function well. The consequences of not meeting this need are obvious and quick to happen, and force us to get disciplined in meeting it. Other basic disciplines in our life if not practiced faithfully result in consequences, but they are not as obvious or as quick to happen so it is much easier to let them slide.

The basic disciplines of the Christian life, Bible reading, scripture memory, prayer, both private and corporate, gathering with other believers for the purpose of giving and receiving encouragement, worship, learning, reflective thinking, self-examination, and confession of sin, and serving the body of Christ are essential for our character growth, our spiritual relationship with God, and our fruit-bearing. But many Christians are very undisciplined in making these happen in their life because the consequences are not obvious but they are very real and most are eternal, not just in this life.

The only way to maintain faithfulness in practicing the basic spiritual disciplines is to make specific, measurable goals for each of the disciplines, keep track of what you do religiously, and be in an accountability relationship.

Many argue with me on this requirement for faithfulness to the basic spiritual disciplines. Those who say that they do just fine without goals and accountability usually have a short list of disciplines and daily isn’t an essential part of the disciplines they practice. The result is mediocre accomplishments, minimal growth, if any, and increased entanglement in the world.