For more information
related to this topic, check out "The
Importance of the Word"
This is an excellent question. You are not alone! All of us have
areas where we need to have more discipline or need to exercise
discipline on a more consistent basis. Most of us have areas where
we are more disciplined than in other areas. Often a strong area
for one person is a weak area for another and vice versa. First,
we must be patient with others and ourselves.
We could examine many areas, but there are three keys I believe
are necessary to consistently have discipline in your life.
1. Set a goal. The goal should be related
to the area in which you desire more discipline. Without a goal
or target we will often become lax.
Proverbs 29:18: (KJV)
Where there is no vision,
the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
The Hebrew word for "vision"
(cha^zo^n) means sight or revelation.
It is important to discover God's goal for us rather than setting
a goal without first consulting Him. Not only will God reveal His
goals for us, He will also give us the wisdom we need to reach them.
However, we must be prepared because if we have wrong motives in
reaching our goals, God will reveal them.
The Hebrew word for "perish"
(pa^ra?) means to loosen or become
slack. I like the Bible in Basic English translation for Proverbs 29.18:
Where there is no vision, the people
are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy. (BBE)
When setting goals, we must make S.M.A.R.T. goals:
- Strategic (have a plan for their
accomplishment )
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Realistic
- Targeted towards your objectives
Setting goals are invaluable to staying disciplined, however goals
in themselves do not produce discipline. They just help us stay
focused and motivated. This leads to the second point of discipline.
2. Co-operation with the Holy Spirit.
Discipline is a by-product of the Holy Spirit working in us. We
develop discipline in our lives when we cooperate with the Holy
Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.
Galatians 5.23: (Amplified)
Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control
(self-restraint, continence).
Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
Notice, the Holy Spirit in our lives produces self-control or self-restraint.
The fruit of the Spirit is developed when we spend time in God's
presence and act upon the leading of His Spirit by faith. The Spirit
will provide you everything necessary to fulfill His leading and
guiding. Often we miss it by trying to accomplish the leading of
God in our own strength. We must fully depend on His power within
us to work out his plan. He provides the power, but we must act
in faith and obedience and do what
he tells us to do. I really like Philippians 2:11-12.
Philippians 2:12-13:
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear
and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure. (KJV)
We are to cooperate with God in
living the Christian life. We are to obey and act both on the Word
and Spirit's leading, not in self-trust, but with fear and trembling,
relying on God, for it is He who works in us the willingness and
strength to do His good pleasure.
The Amplified Translation on verse 13 makes this clear:
Philippians 2:13:
[Not in your own strength] for
it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing
and creating in you the power and desire],
both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction
and delight.
3. Daily time in the Word of God will lead
to disciplined living. The Amplified Translation of 2 Peter
1.5-6 brings this out:
2 Peter 1:5-6:
For this very reason, adding your diligence
[to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your
faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution,
Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop]
knowledge (intelligence).
And in [exercising] knowledge
[develop] self-control, and in
[exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance),
and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety).
We are to add virtue to the faith
we received when we were saved. The Greek word for “virtue”
is “arête” and has different shades of meaning.
One meaning is moral resolve and a desire for moral excellence.
Most of us have made resolutions, they usually do not last too long
because we neglect to add what the Bible tells us we need next,
which is knowledge. Knowledge of
the Word of God will aid us in carrying out our resolve for moral
excellence. How does that happen? The more time I spend in the Word,
the more self-control I seem to have in my life. The Spirit works
in conjunction with the Word of God. The Spirit does not operate
independently of the Word. As you fill your heart with the Word
of God, the Spirit energizes the Word and its inherent power is
released. If you put a seed into soil and add water, the power of
that seed is released. The seed of the Word of God works the same
way. Plant the Word in your heart, add the water of the Spirit and
it will cause the seed to spring forth and the inherent power in
the Word to produce in your life.
Luke 1:37: (Amplified)
For with God nothing is ever impossible
and no word from God shall be without power
or impossible of fulfillment.
To knowledge we are to add self-control
and to self-control, patience. This goes back to your question about
being disciplined in a consistent way. This is important. As we
spend time with God and in His Word, as we act on what we learn,
self-control will be added to us. This self-control, lived out consistently,
is patience. In doing the Word regardless of negative circumstances,
patience is developed. Growing in patience takes time—it doesn’t
happen overnight! Continuing in the Word regardless of circumstances
builds character. When we remain in the Word of God, we will grow
in both patience and character.
In conclusion, a disciplined life begins with a disciplined time
with God in prayer, praise, and His Word. If you seem to lack the
desire or strength to be diligent in your daily time with God, begin
by admitting this to God and claim the promise in Philippians 2:13
that God will work in you to both give you that desire and the necessary
power to do His good pleasure. God takes no greater pleasure than
in spending time with you. As you spend that close, intimate time
with the Lord, you will get His wisdom for your life and will start
to see a new power and the discipline you desire will be the result.
May God Bless You,
Rick McFarland bio
Director/Singles Director
Real Answers bookstore
Grace Church
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