[[Spiritual Formation]] / Spiritual Discipline > [!note] New - 2026-03-27 ![[assets/covers/spiritual-discipline.jpg]] Spiritual discipline comprises intentional practices and habits such as fasting, prayer, and self-examination that strengthen faith and demonstrate visible commitment to God. These practices shape Christian character, deepen relationship with God, and witness to faith in the world. ## Fasting as Christian Practice Fasting (abstaining from food or drink for a defined period) functions as both an inner spiritual exercise and an outer sign of commitment. Samuel’s practice of fasting ‘from six to six’ exemplifies how Christians incorporate traditional disciplines into contemporary life; his daily abstinence from food and drink between six in the morning and six in the evening served as a concrete expression of faith. When engineers working alongside him noticed his absence from communal meals and asked whether he was fasting, Samuel explained his practice plainly, offering a window into how spiritual disciplines can witness to faith even in secular workplaces.[^jabbour-crescent-p150] > [!example]- Changelog > - **2026-03-28** Create from *The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross*: New page covering Spiritual practices and habits such as fasting that strengthen faith and demonstrate commitment to God. ## Selected passages > ![[assets/covers/bray-common-prayer.jpg|28]] ‘This plateau (or “base camp”) ... phase emphasizes two aspects of the spiritual preparation for this ascent: ==repentance,== that is, being sincerely sorry for our sin and ==intending to turn from it== and obey God; and ==faith,== that is, trusting in Jesus Christ as the one who saves us from sin and gives us new life.’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 88 ([[sources/scans/bray-common-prayer/How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - 101.jpg|🖼️]]) > ![[assets/covers/bray-common-prayer.jpg|28]] ‘It is addressed not to those who are perfect, but to those who are penitent ==(“truly and earnestly repent you of your sins”)== and who are committed to reconciliation with others ==(“are in love and charity with your neighbours”)== and personal ho- liness ==(“intend to lead a new life”).==’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 89 ([[sources/scans/bray-common-prayer/How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - 102.jpg|🖼️]]) > ![[assets/covers/jabbour-crescent.jpg|28]] ‘==One day one of the engineers working with him along with a few others observed that Samuel was no longer going to that room where the Christians ate and drank. They asked him, “Are you fasting?” Samuel said, “Yes.” “Like us?” the man asked. So Samuel explained to them that he was fasting from food and drink from six to six.==’ > > *The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross*, p. 150 ([[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/fulltext-p124.jpg|📖]] [[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/notebook-p14.jpg|📓]]) ## Cross-book resonance > ![[assets/covers/bray-common-prayer.jpg|28]] ‘This plateau (or “base camp”) ... phase emphasizes two aspects of the spiritual preparation for this ascent: ==repentance,== that is, being sincerely sorry for our sin and ==intending to turn from it== and obey God; and ==faith,== that is, trusting in Jesus Christ as the one who saves us from sin […]’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 88 ([[sources/scans/bray-common-prayer/How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - 101.jpg|🖼️]]) > ![[assets/covers/jabbour-crescent.jpg|28]] ‘==One day one of the engineers working with him along with a few others observed that Samuel was no longer going to that room where the Christians ate and drank. They asked him, “Are you fasting?” Samuel said, “Yes.” “Like us?” the man asked. So Samuel explained to them that he was fasting from […]’ > > *The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross*, p. 150 ([[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/fulltext-p124.jpg|📖]] [[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/notebook-p14.jpg|📓]]) ## Appearances - *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane - 6 Ascending to Heaven: Holy Communion, pp. 88–89 - *The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross*, Nabeel T. Jabbour - Chapter 10 Isolated and Watered Down, p. 150 ## Related [[Spiritual Formation]] . [[Lenten Discipline]] . [[Repentance and Contrition]] . [[Self-Examination]] . [[Prayer as Essential Practice]] . [[Christian Formation]] . [[Spiritual Journey and Formation]] [^jabbour-crescent-p150]: [[The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross]], p. 150 ([[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/fulltext-p124.jpg|📖]] [[assets/pages/jabbour-crescent/notebook-p14.jpg|📓]]) . ‘**One day one of the engineers working with him along with a few others observed that Samuel was no longer going to that room where the Christians ate and drank. They asked him, “Are you fasting?” Samuel said, “Yes.” “Like us?” the man asked. So Samuel explained to them that he was fasting from […]’