Light Tree
Douglas Frank Photograph
Self-Discipline
2018
Resolution or revolution, do you make vows or promises? Be
careful what you list, for I believe instead "it” is your heart that God
wants, broken and contrite. I will keep “it” simple as we look ahead. We can
only live today, one moment at a time, enjoying “it” no matter what. I believe
that is getting to “it.” Enjoying God and praising Him is what “it” is all
about in “it.” So here “it” is:
Self-Discipline is
my spiritual fruit concentration for the New Year. Joy was celebrated in 2017
and I will keep it going for that is God’s will too. I have written on
self-control, which is similar, but seems to be more about not flying off the
handle or losing it. Moreover, self-discipline is that witness for the purpose
of godliness. Discipline without direction or hope is drudgery; ask any
six-year old in a music lesson. The rugged strength of Christian character
grows from discipline. The Apostle Paul teaches to “Discipline yourself for the
purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7 NASB). Seek the light of His wisdom
in your quest.
So what are these disciplines that will help in the New
Year? Here is my partial and hopefully helpful list; confession,
accountability, simplicity, silence, solitude, serenity, sanctuary, submission,
celebration, meditation, praising and thanksgiving are a few keys for me. How
do we do this? I believe there are many keys, but two are better than one and “As
iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). So
seek God first in silent solitude and find another godly person in your journey
to discipline.
Stuff or life happens
as the circumstances of our lives push and pull us. This is the opportunity to
choose godly disciplines, or the easy old fallback position or habits. God is
trying to transform us from one level to another higher one in Christlikeness
through His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Cultivate communion or vital union
with Christ, as God wants us to apply our whole heart to discipline. It’s holiness
He is after as He has given us His righteousness. We are modeling and following
in fellowship with Him. We have the freedom in Christ to embrace the
undisciplined or disciplined life one moment at a time. So we need to practice
and choose life in a disciplined way (Deuteronomy 30:19). There is a price to
freedom, different from Braveheart’s. It is the blood of Jesus’s sacrifice on the
cross that has set us free to be pure and holy in the pursuit of discipline, a
life-long quest through Christ’s Spirit who strengthens us for the journey.
Remember that if you are in Christ, you are a new person,
the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Since God is new
every morning, open His Word and meditate on the truths that set us free (John
8:36). There are many ways to study God’s Word. I concentrate starting on the
Psalms that deal with every emotion. I start with Psalm 1 imaged in the “Light
Tree” photo above saying, “Blessed in the man whose delight in in the
law of the Lord. He is like a tree planted in streams of water, which
yields its fruit in season.” In
this way the Holy Spirit using a concordance for reference leads me to other
Scripture. It is in this process that the Spirit reveals what He wants me to
pursue in my life and in journaling and writing.
Pray faithfully, guarding your hearts, for this is the
wellspring of our lives (Proverbs 4:23). Talking to God clarifies and emboldens
His Word into us. Pray morning, noon and night or as Paul says, continuously.
This is an attitude of the heart, taking all things to God in prayer. He hears
and answers always, unless you have un-confessed sin in your life.
Be patient in affliction and stay the course. Stay under the
trial until God is done with you. Wow, there is a hard one made more clear, but
no less easy in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy when you come into
trials of diverse kinds because the testing of your faith develops
perseverance, which must finish its work so that you may become mature and
complete lacking nothing.” This
hard passage tells us that God is giving or allowing the trial or temptation,
while He is with us in it. He is faithful as 1 Corinthians 10:13 admonishes us.
He is faithful and will provide a way out or through if we stay under. We will
miss the blessing and lesson of the trial if we don’t persevere with
self-discipline. So as James 1:5 admonishes, “But if anyone lacks wisdom, he
should ask God who gives generously.”
Now, be joyful in hope! You probably notice that I am
walking you through Romans 12:12 about Joy, patience and faithfulness in all
things. And I want to add to this verse praise which Paul does in 1
Thessalonians 4:16-18 when he tells us to “rejoice
always, give thanks in all things and pray continuously, for this is will of
God for you in Christ Jesus.” You see, God is in or inhabits the praises of
His people, Israel (Psalm 22:3). His people are the apple of His eye and He
will deliver them through the storms and trials of life. Notice that most of
the Old Testament is about God’s people rebelling and being disobedient with
consequences, leading to a 40-year sentence, famine and wars and pain. God uses
pain to discipline us so that we will be more disciplined. Trouble can draw us
closer to God or push us away; it is our choice to be grateful for His grace or
not.
I could write all day on New Year’s discipline. Let me pause
for a while to let it sink in or be assimilated or not. Remember that none of
this is possible on your own. It is the Holy Spirit filling and leading you in
the Truth that prevails. He also convicts, but He comforts too, so seek His filling
continuously as you work to be disciplined in His name for His glory and your
good. Blessed Happy New Year!
I was just reminded of a bad habit of interrupting people while they are speaking. This is a discipline of "non-interruption" for 2018
ReplyDeleteHi Dear brother Randy Frank. Lowell here from Faithwalkers. It is such a treat for us to have you on board as one of our teachers! I personally gain a great deal from your talks! Like you , I have had my history/s of when god has had to literally take over and either heal me or show me why I am going through the season of challenge! On Novemeber 5th of 2015 I endured THE hardest physical time of my life and went through open heart surgery. 2 bypasses and one new cow valve installed in me. took 11 days in the hospital at St .Lukes from start to restart! I literally only had about `10% breathing capacity for 3 an1/2 straight days because they had filled up my chest with drainage tubes to make sure I did not contract disease. I had to learn how to breath again. Imagine that! During that time, I could NOT sleep so I just aksed for my Bible and just started at Psalm 1 and kept reading uuntill I fell asleep for at least 20 minutes! Woke up with the Bible open on my lap and thanked God I was able to get THAT much... in three days. Misery to the max! At 3 AM Nurse Jesse came into my room and we worked on her marriage with 4 kids and I got fulfilled doing that! Took my mind off myself and the Lord did a miracle for her I am sure. God's timing, agenda and strength. I sure didn't have any!
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