“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” – 2 Corinthians 10:5….Today’s blog entry deals with Self Control/Discipline.
Being disciplined is an important part of life. Sometimes we may not feel like doing the things that we need to get done, and sometimes doing the things that we really want to do could actually be detrimental to us. For example, say you have a child who is in elementary school and loves to play outside (as many children do). And as a result of this, the child decides that he/she doesn’t want to go back to class after recess any more, but would rather spend the rest of the afternoon playing outside from now on. This obviously would be a bad decision. By playing outside when he/she should be in class, the child would be missing out on valuable learning time.
As adults we are faced with many decisions. Many of the people reading this probably have certain desserts that you enjoy eating (I know I do). And as good as those desserts may taste, it would be a very bad idea to eat them 24/7. It’s important for a person to be able to show some restraint, and eat healthy foods that will be good for their body. And eating isn’t the only area were we should show restraint. Discipline should be a part of our lifestyle. If a person has an important project/assignment to complete for work/school, they should stay focused and finish the task. There may be other things that they would rather be doing (such as hanging out with friends, going to the mall, movies, etc.), however if they want to be successful at school/work they need to be able to follow directions, and complete the assignments they are given.
In our Christian walk, it’s extremely important that we are disciplined. We need to consistently spend time reading the Word, and praying. We also need to apply what we read to our everyday lives. If someone is hurling insults at you, don’t allow yourself to hurl insults back at them. Keep your composure. If you are unmarried and someone is trying to pressure you to have sex with them, don’t do it. Put some distance between yourself and that person. If you’re at work and you see your co-workers doing dishonest things, don’t allow yourself to pick up those type of habits. When you’re by yourself, make wise decisions. Don’t be entertained by things that displease God. Be careful of the things that you watch and listen to. And also remember the importance of sharing the Gospel with others. As it says in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Make it a part of your life to consistently share the Gospel.
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us be disciplined, and conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God.
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Being disciplined is an important part of life. Sometimes we may not feel like doing the things that we need to get done, and sometimes doing the things that we really want to do could actually be detrimental to us. For example, say you have a child who is in elementary school and loves to play outside (as many children do). And as a result of this, the child decides that he/she doesn’t want to go back to class after recess any more, but would rather spend the rest of the afternoon playing outside from now on. This obviously would be a bad decision. By playing outside when he/she should be in class, the child would be missing out on valuable learning time.
As adults we are faced with many decisions. Many of the people reading this probably have certain desserts that you enjoy eating (I know I do). And as good as those desserts may taste, it would be a very bad idea to eat them 24/7. It’s important for a person to be able to show some restraint, and eat healthy foods that will be good for their body. And eating isn’t the only area were we should show restraint. Discipline should be a part of our lifestyle. If a person has an important project/assignment to complete for work/school, they should stay focused and finish the task. There may be other things that they would rather be doing (such as hanging out with friends, going to the mall, movies, etc.), however if they want to be successful at school/work they need to be able to follow directions, and complete the assignments they are given.
In our Christian walk, it’s extremely important that we are disciplined. We need to consistently spend time reading the Word, and praying. We also need to apply what we read to our everyday lives. If someone is hurling insults at you, don’t allow yourself to hurl insults back at them. Keep your composure. If you are unmarried and someone is trying to pressure you to have sex with them, don’t do it. Put some distance between yourself and that person. If you’re at work and you see your co-workers doing dishonest things, don’t allow yourself to pick up those type of habits. When you’re by yourself, make wise decisions. Don’t be entertained by things that displease God. Be careful of the things that you watch and listen to. And also remember the importance of sharing the Gospel with others. As it says in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Make it a part of your life to consistently share the Gospel.
As we continue to grow in our walk with Christ, let us be disciplined, and conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing to God.
“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27