It is easy to pick up instructions from the Lord such as the great commission. I want to focus on some ongoing disciplines that a disciple of Christ Jesus should practice continually. There are 3 "when you" in the 6th chapters of The Gospel of Matthew, indicating that these should be part of the disciple's life.

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Doing alms is also translated as giving to the poor. These days giving to the poor is usually the case by case basis and many believers do not do so regularly. We only give when we receive news of someone in need or when there is a special collection for a specific purpose. Giving to the poor was a common practice in Jesus' time and even Judassuggested the expensive price of the perfume should be given to the poor. His suggestion must have been in the line with what they had been doing - giving to the poor. Jesus advocated that this should be done in secret.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

The second ongoing discipline of the believers in prayer. Prayer is a practice not unique to Christianity. When people believe that humans are limited and not in control, they usually ended up in prayer. Prayer reveals our reliance on God. Prayer is as important as reading the Word of God. Both acts combined and we have communication with God. Prayer must be done direct to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus (John 14:13) and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer life directly affects our spiritual life.

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

The next one is the discipline of fasting. Similarly, in many other religious practices, fastings is common. A Christian fast is a form of humility before God. Denying our natural needs of the body by abstaining from food while relying on God for His supernatural intervention of circumstances. Many Christian missed this form of experience with God. Jesus once said that the disciples should fast when the bridegroom is taken away in Matthew 9:14.

May we adopt every spiritual practice that benefit our spiritual life. May we start to give, take time to fast and pray, taking heed that these should be done in our private moments and not with whistles and bells.