Sunday, December 02, 2012
Developing Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't
talk back. ~ W.K. Hope
Scripture:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)
Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one's self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behaviour, even though one would really rather be doing something else. For example, denying oneself of an extravagant pleasure in order to accomplish a more demanding charitable deed. Thus, self-discipline is the assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is usually understood to be a synonym of 'self control'.
As a writer, I am often asked; how do you find time to write? My standard answer is that I make time. I have disciplined myself to make time to do what it is I need to do to accomplish my dreams. Writing is important to me and when we realize those things in our lives that matter most to us, we will do whatever is necessary to accomplish them.
I have also realized that being a Christian also takes self-discipline. It is so easy to take for granted our relationship with God. We can always find time to do everything else in our lives so why do we find it so hard to spend time with God?
When things are going well in our lives, we tend to want to put God on the back burner. Then we things start going awry, we panic because we have neglected to keep Him in the forefront of all that we do. When we make it a habit to do those things in our lives that are important, we learn to listen to our conscience and not talk back.
When we get in the habit of having a daily talk with God, He will become all the conscious you need.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father, help us to guard our minds this and every day. When we grow weak and tired, allow a small wind, Your breath of life, to gently caress our faces, letting us know that You are right there with us. When we grow weary and almost faint, let the bread of life and the living waters, Your word, revitalize us. Father, even in our storms, we must always remember to stop and give You thanks. Even when life is assailing us, we must stop and praise Your name. Even when it seems like we don't have the strength to go a step further, we must muster the strength to uplift and exalt Your most holy name. My Lord, help us always to be mindful and protect our thoughts from the one who seeks to destroy us. Help us to remember to always guard our hearts and minds from those things that are not of You. Father, continue to be with those who are in the hospital, who are ill, who are grieving, who are faced with the challenges of the world. Father God I say a special prayer for my friends who are mothers. Strengthen them and give them what they need to protect their greatest gifts, their children. Lord, we realize that satan is out to destroy our families. We come standing in the gap and standing on Your word. We claim our children in the name of Jesus. We plead the blood of the Lamb over our babies and we refuse to give up on them. We ask and pray these things in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)
Self-discipline refers to the training that one gives one's self to accomplish a certain task or to adopt a particular pattern of behaviour, even though one would really rather be doing something else. For example, denying oneself of an extravagant pleasure in order to accomplish a more demanding charitable deed. Thus, self-discipline is the assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is usually understood to be a synonym of 'self control'.
As a writer, I am often asked; how do you find time to write? My standard answer is that I make time. I have disciplined myself to make time to do what it is I need to do to accomplish my dreams. Writing is important to me and when we realize those things in our lives that matter most to us, we will do whatever is necessary to accomplish them.
I have also realized that being a Christian also takes self-discipline. It is so easy to take for granted our relationship with God. We can always find time to do everything else in our lives so why do we find it so hard to spend time with God?
When things are going well in our lives, we tend to want to put God on the back burner. Then we things start going awry, we panic because we have neglected to keep Him in the forefront of all that we do. When we make it a habit to do those things in our lives that are important, we learn to listen to our conscience and not talk back.
When we get in the habit of having a daily talk with God, He will become all the conscious you need.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father, help us to guard our minds this and every day. When we grow weak and tired, allow a small wind, Your breath of life, to gently caress our faces, letting us know that You are right there with us. When we grow weary and almost faint, let the bread of life and the living waters, Your word, revitalize us. Father, even in our storms, we must always remember to stop and give You thanks. Even when life is assailing us, we must stop and praise Your name. Even when it seems like we don't have the strength to go a step further, we must muster the strength to uplift and exalt Your most holy name. My Lord, help us always to be mindful and protect our thoughts from the one who seeks to destroy us. Help us to remember to always guard our hearts and minds from those things that are not of You. Father, continue to be with those who are in the hospital, who are ill, who are grieving, who are faced with the challenges of the world. Father God I say a special prayer for my friends who are mothers. Strengthen them and give them what they need to protect their greatest gifts, their children. Lord, we realize that satan is out to destroy our families. We come standing in the gap and standing on Your word. We claim our children in the name of Jesus. We plead the blood of the Lamb over our babies and we refuse to give up on them. We ask and pray these things in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
