Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

John Mark Comer’s counsel in Practicing the Way establishes a foundational truth about spiritual formation: every person is being formed, whether intentionally or not. If formation is not intentionally rooted in Jesus, it is highly likely to be shaped unintentionally by other forces and influences [01:51]. This means spiritual formation is not an optional add-on but an unavoidable process that requires deliberate choice about who or what will shape heart, mind, and habit.

Spiritual formation, therefore, is best understood as learning to live from Jesus’ example and presence rather than following a checklist of rules. The central aim is to adopt the rhythms and practices that cultivate a life shaped by Jesus’ own way—what has been described as learning the “unforced rhythms of grace” that free a person to live lightly and freely with him [02:44]. Genuine formation is participation in a way of life, not mere conformity to external regulations.

The biblical language of “blessed” clarifies what the good life looks like under Jesus’ authority. The Greek makarios, often translated “blessed,” is rendering the Hebrew concept אֲשְׁרֵי (ashrei or ashray), which is more accurately understood as “the good life” rather than simply the reception of favors. A different Hebrew term (בָּרוּךְ, baruch) more directly conveys the idea of God’s favor being poured out. Exploring these lexical distinctions opens a fuller picture of what Scripture intends by blessing and human flourishing [13:14].

When Jesus connects knowledge and action—“If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13)—the point is that the good life, as Jesus defines it, is practical and moral: it is found in humble service, not in status, recognition, or worldly success. Jesus redefines flourishing as a life aligned with his pattern of service and self-giving, showing that true human well-being comes from embodying his way rather than pursuing external advantages [15:57].

Taken together, these teachings make clear that spiritual formation requires intentional alignment with Jesus so that one’s character, priorities, and practices reflect his pattern of life. The decisive question is not whether formation happens, but by whom a person allows themselves to be formed. Choosing to be formed by Jesus means embracing his rhythms, living out his definition of the good life, and engaging in humble service as the mark of true flourishing.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Novation Church, one of 344 churches in Westminster, CO