Disciplines of the Heart Reflection

I found a treasure this week and I want to share it with you. A friend of mine sent me the questions that John Wesley and his band of fellow believers used for reflection. You may remember John Wesley. As a young man in 1738 Wesley had a radical encounter with Jesus Christ. He went on to form “classes and bands” for study and accountability and eventually founded what became the Methodist denomination. I am not a Methodist, but I think these questions are great! They get to the main point of our faith, where the rubber meets the road— how we live out our faith each day. These questions are simple and to the point. Your answers will help you evaluate how you are walking with the Lord and where you may need a course correction.

As we walk on the ancient paths with the Lord it is important to have a regular time of reflection. You can work through these questions on your own at the end of each day or use them as an accountability guide for your small group discussion. You may want to print them out and keep them in the back of your Bible.


Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Did I give it time to speak to me today?
Am I enjoying prayer?
Did I speak to someone today about my faith?
Did I pray about the money I spent?
Did I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Did I disobey God in anything?
Did I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How did I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Did I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
Did I grumble or complain constantly?
Is Christ real to me?

Father I thank you that You care how we live each and every day. You see the motives of our hearts. You are not going to settle for superficial compromise in our lives. Lord, take us deeper with you.
Clean us up and let us walk with you in purity and in holiness.
In Jesus name,
Amen