We all got into the field of church communications one of two ways: on purpose or by accident. Maybe you knew early on that God had called you to serve the church as a sound technician or graphic designer, so you strategically trained to become equipped in this way. Or maybe your small, rural church decided at a business meeting that printed bulletins were needed, and no one but you knew how to use a computer.
No matter your story or ministry, you’ll find that it’s much easier than anyone led you to believe to burn out, lose focus, and—worst of all—disconnect from your relationship with God.
A lot of ink has been spilled defining Christianity’s spiritual disciplines theologically and practically. One of the best is “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life” by Donald S. Whitney (affiliate link).
But for you, as a church staff member and a creative one at that, how can you implement a daily rhythm of spiritual disciplines into your work day? Below, you’ll find a few innovative ways to think about 3 core spiritual disciplines.
1. Prayer
Boil each day’s prayer needs down to a few keywords: Car. Myanmar. Pastor. (Only you will know that means a single mom you know needs a car, a college friend is serving internally displaced people in Myanmar, and your church is currently without a pastor.) Throughout the day, set alarms on your phone and label them with just those keywords. Intentionally bringing these prayer needs to mind ensures that, even though you must complete many tasks in a day, you can stay in a prayer mindset.
Consider beginning your day with Biblical meditation, breath prayer, or centering prayer. These methods incorporate the use of scripture into a calming meditation. Practices like this can settle your spirit and clear your mind. “Prayer” by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson (affiliate link) is another excellent resource in book form.
Journal your prayers in whatever way your brain works. Maybe that is writing them out, but if it feels more natural to draw, then do that. If you have trouble recording your prayers daily, start with one hour per week of “brain dumping” all of the prayers on your heart that week. Think of journaling as a tool to focus or inspire your prayers, rather than the act of prayer itself.
2. Scripture Reading
Read the Bible in a new way. Using visual aids could awaken a new connection to stories you know well. Try Alabaster Co. (affiliate link), which captures Scripture with visual imagery and thoughtful design. You may even find that pairing a children’s Bible storybook with your Scripture Reading jogs a childlike faith you had forgotten.
Use one day per week to deep-dive a certain passage of Scripture. Then continue learning the rest of the week through meditation, memorization, and revisiting smaller chunks of verses. You may not cover as much ground with this approach to Scripture reading, but you will stay present and engaged with the story, and will find yourself quite deep in its rich meaning—which let’s be honest, is a win-win.
3. Worship
As a church communicator, you probably have a job to do during corporate worship settings. Try building a team to divide the labor and prepping as much as possible during the week so that you can enjoy this time of worship as well. And even if things go awry? Use these practices from Austin Stone Worship to engage in corporate worship anyway.
Get outside. The refrain of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 was “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” When you explore the natural world, you’ll find yourself filled with awe and wonder, which is one of the simplest expressions of worship.
In the same vein, observe or make art. When humans create, they image their Creator. Go to an art gallery, read a novel, or fingerpaint with your kids. Enjoy the product of and the act of creating as an expression of worship.
