Discipline

Lessons learned… There are some lessons that I think I’ve learned and then out of nowhere… BAM, I realize that I haven’t gotten the full lesson yet.  Like, discipline for example.  I thought when I started teaching school I had learned my lesson about discipline.  I was correcting students all day.  I had to have learned my lesson right?  Wrong!  Then I started a healthy eating journey and I thought I had learned all about self-discipline.  Wrong!  So then we adopted dogs.  I had to teach them how to be disciplined, so I learned the lesson again.  Well, in that case let’s just say the dogs still jump on the couch, pull the leash, and sleep in the bed.  So, clearly it was not learned again.  Next we had a child.  Now I know for sure I will never learn this lesson of discipline. 

She is all too familiar with the word, “No.” and we wrestle with what she can and cannot touch on a minute by minute base.  But, I think I’ve actually learned a lesson this time.  I have learned that I will never finish learning the lesson of discipline.  The reason for that is because it is a lifelong lesson.  As I grow and change so does the type of discipline I need in my life.  I will always need discipline, so I will always be learning a new lesson about it. 

So, I wanted to take a look at what it means to be disciplined.  First of all, I’ve not been very disciplined in writing this blog.  I know that I do so much better in my Christian walk when I write about it.  So, I believe that my flesh and a few of the devils minions work to make sure that I don’t do it.   Second, I haven’t been very disciplined about my healthy eating journey.  I have allowed the stress of life and circumstances to cloud my way.  It’s so much easier to not do what’s right. 

Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

Romans sums up my feelings so perfectly.  I want to be disciplined.  I want to do what I’m supposed to do, and eat well, and read my bible every day, and raise my child well.  But, I seem to find a million ways to not do those things.  Why?  Well, the short answer is because we are a sinful and fallen people.  If you continue reading the words in Romans 7 through verse 24 you’ll see that Paul lays it all out.  It’s not himself that is doing what he doesn’t want to do, but the sin living in him.  But, I know personally I have to be careful here.  I could see my thinking leading me to see this as a free ticket.

“Oh, it’s not my fault.  I’m a sinful person and it’s my sin that’s causing me to do the wrong thing.  I’m still a good person.  I’m sinful like everyone else.  It’s the sins fault.”

That’s so true, except the good person part.  I’m not a good person.  I’m a sinful evil person without Jesus in my heart.  He is the only thing that makes me good.  It is the sins fault that I want to do what I know I shouldn’t do.  But, the sin is there because I have been committing it.  Real life example here: I want cookies because I’ve been eating cookies.  Now, in and of itself, a cookie is not a sin.  Its tasty, but not a sin.  When I decided to eat the entire bag of cookies I’ve sinned.  Now, that sin has a snowball effect.  Because I’m not the only person in the house, I feel bad I’ve eaten all the cookies, so I buy more.  Then I eat more, and the cycle continues.  Also, because I’ve had that sugar I want more sugar.  So, I eat more cookies, and cake, and candy.  Sin is a death spiral. 

But, God gives us a way out. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But, when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

We are tempted.  It’s a common affliction.  Every person is tempted.  Jesus himself was tempted.  But, God does not leave us defenseless.  Our defense is found in discipline.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Learning scripture is a discipline that will give us a way out in tough times.  When we are tempted by things that seem so great in the moment, and will give us instant gratification, we have to remember that the word of God promises so much more.  We don’t always have time to pull out our bible or the desire to pull it out.  However, if those words are written on our hearts, we won’t be able to fight them.  They will just come to our minds.  God has a way of showing up when we need him. 

Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”

There are a lot of opportunities for discipline in our lives.  It takes discipline to learn an instrument, a skill, a hobby like sewing or knitting.  It takes discipline to be a good parent, a healthy person, and a joyful Christian.  Discipline is scary because it means we don’t dictate what we do, but some other set of rules.  But, if we make sure that those rules are God’s rules then we know it will always been for our best interest.  I know I have to keep learning this lesson.  Discipline is a lesson that never ends.  There’s no dismissal bell, no graduation ceremony, just a lifetime of knowledge that’s gained from learning to be disciplined.

I’m praying personally for more discipline in what I put in my body and what I do with my body (getting active mostly).  How can I pray for you to be more disciplined?