Discipline is kind of like bad tasting medicine. It is necessary for our health, but oh how awful it tastes as you swallow hard, eyes watering, with a sigh of relief once it is over. For the first few times I finally learned to swallow a pill it was the same. Moments of great concentration and effort took place as I disciplined myself to just-do-it. Relief from the pounding headache, or soar throat that plagued me at the moment would be worth the struggle I was facing at the present.
There is a point we come to in our lives, when we have to swallow the pill of discipline if we are going to accomplish what God has put in us to walk out in our life. I am convinced, to succeed in life, in any area, discipline must be a practice.
When you first begin to apply yourself to a disciplined lifestyle, it - is - painful. It isn't easy and really it isn't fun. This summer the Lord spoke strongly to me about being more disciplined in some specific areas of my life. When He spoke to me I had little understanding of what I was in for. There have been many days when I have had to swallow hard, while my eyes are watering and my flesh dying. Interesting fact though. The more you do it, the easier it gets. It becomes a habit that is almost natural and so very rewarding.
The best part though, is the growth that has come as a result. I'm still having to die daily to things in my flesh. I will until my Savior returns. Until that time though, I am experiencing a more fulfilling life because of the discipline He instructed to make a part of my life.
Don't you think Jesus had to have had discipline in His life before He got to the Garden of Gethsemane? Before He got to the very thing He came to this earth for. Think about it. He could have called down angels to pull Him out of the Garden before He went to the cross. That takes incredible discipline, knowing what kind of death He would die and still going through with it because He believed you were worth it. Believing that still called for immense discipline.
Whatever God has called you to will require discipline on your part. Too many are living according to what their flesh wants rather than causing it to come under the authority of the Holy Spirit. You may be "anointed" and "called", but until you have the character to carry it, you're not ready to walk in it.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
"All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
