The AHa! Blog

This summer, as Illini Life has been doing a series of messages on the Spiritual Disciplines, I got a chance to speak on the discipline of celebration.

Now, that’s quite different from your typical disciplines of fasting, prayer, memorization, etc. It seems like it could be fun.

As I read Richard Foster’s thoughts on celebration, I became convinced that it’s something God asks of us. In fact, it’s at the center of the message of Jesus. He came to celebrate and to offer the freedom and joy that comes with that.

We use discipline to help our relationship with God. In turn, our relationship with God brings out a Godly and sustainable Joy in Him. To express our joy, we celebrate. Our celebration makes us want to draw closer and to be more connected to God through those spiritual disciplines.

It is a choice to celebrate, therefore, it itself is a discipline. However, without the other ones, it becomes hollow (like many celebrations we have).