Have you ever thought about how your energy has changed as you’ve gotten older?

I’m only 62, but a few years back, I began to realize my energy was not the same as it was in my twenties.

No longer could I plan to deep clean the entire house in one day.  No longer was it a guarantee that I could effectively pull an all-nighter. No longer was I easily writing long into the evening.

Suddenly, all the wisdom about caring for my sleep, health, mental acuity, and emotional stamina came home to roost. I realized I couldn’t skate through life any longer on my youth but had to carefully steward my energy.

As I was meditating on Philippians these last few weeks, God directed my attention to another type of energy. This led me to add another spiritual discipline for our third chapter: Stewarding Energy.

But, this isn’t about the energy to mow the lawn, stay up past 9, or keep up with grandchildren.

This is about the energy we need for ministry and warfare.

God began to direct my thinking during a discussion about Philippians 2:14 where Paul tells us to do everything without arguing and complaining.

The primary side-effect of this unpleasant habit (or being around those who engage in these activities) is that it drains energy.

Experienced athletes know, before a major competition, to refrain from any energy-draining activity.

Veteran soldiers also know to conserve energy before (and during) a battle.

Life-long farmers know to pace themselves during planting, harvesting, and all the days between.

Likewise, mature believers understand two energy-drainers are sin and relying on our own strength.

As if we needed another reason to eliminate sin from our lives, Paul spells out its energy-draining side-effect in Hebrews 12:1

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Sin and sinful attitudes weigh us down. We can’t afford that. We need all our energy for kingdom prayers, kingdom work, and kingdom relationships.

Just prior to this in Philippians 2:12-13, Paul talks about “work.”

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Here’s the cool thing. The Hebrew word for work in “God who works in you” is energeo. (Told you it was cool.)

As we work (katergazomai) through our salvation (Phil.2:12), God’s energy is in us and works through us.

So, a wise third chapter discipline is to a) release sin from our lives and b) rely on God’s work in us to release His energy through us.

Stewarding energy isn’t about some mystical, new age, crystal-fueled concept unavailable only to the initiated. It’s about understanding the gospel and applying it to our lives.

We are saved through the work done by Jesus Christ on the cross and then God’s energy (energeo) is the work of sanctification that continues by His Holy Spirit.

As we cooperate with Him by refraining from sin, reading His Word, praying and obeying, we wisely steward energy for the battle that is life on this outpost of glory.

This fits neatly with the second verse of Hebrews 12 which completes the thought begun in verse 1: “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We know that for centuries, believers have practiced the spiritual disciplines of Bible study/reading, prayer, solitude, fasting, worship, simplicity, giving, and remembrance.

Who am I to suggest there is more but as I explore the advantages of aging in the Lord, I do see these specific disciplines for older (third chapter) believers, that can help us finish the race well.

So far, I’ve explored Stewarding Energy, Whatever is True, Embrace New Ways, People, Experiences, and Intentional Community.

What are your thoughts? What role have spiritual disciplines or practices played in your life? How have they changed as you’ve matured or aged? Have you considered any of these Third Chapter Disciplines?

I reply to every comment and each email! Let me hear from you!

BTW, for those of you who like getting the scoop first, my upcoming book published by Our Daily Bread Publishers, Graceful Influence: Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from Women of the Bible is available for preorder at Amazon.

Energy Management for #Christians. https://t.co/bQUgXyxLPi #spiritualdisciplines

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) June 21, 2023