One of the hardest things to accomplish as human beings, or that I have found difficult, is stillness. Perhaps, it has to do with the fact that we are not made to be stagnant. In fact, all of creation thrives in motion – and if it’s not moving or breathing, then it’s dead.
But doesn’t that also speak to other areas like consistency or discipline? It seems like a foreign concept when you have to do something the same way over and over again. While there are some people that thrive on routines, it is not everyone’s cup of tea and doesn’t come as easy to everyone. The stakes are higher for Christians though and yet, concepts like stillness, discipline, and consistency are quite valuable to our lives, especially our spiritual lives.
More often than not, I have found that it is easier to stick to a path continuously and do it well when it involves instant gratification and loads of pleasure. And I get it – believe me! It’s hard to commit to one single thing continuously for a prolonged period, especially when the benefits thereof seem so much further ahead and in the case of God, we sometimes don’t even know what the benefit or reward will be. But the value of discipline cannot be rivaled .
So, let’s talk about it. When was the last time you made a choice and stuck with it to the very end? Married folk would get it. It takes discipline to keep choosing your spouse all seasons through. But marriage aside, what are you doing for God that can be accounted for discipline?
See, one of the key principles in being a disciple of Christ is discipline – it’s evident in the name.
You have to choose the way of the cross continuously throughout your life. Every day, really. It begins with a daily choice of intentional commitment. If you study the disciples and look at the way they lived their lives, they did not just, or accidentally become great apostles. Instead, their discipline in prayer as was taught by Jesus was a significant part of their lives. And while we are on Jesus, remember how He would repeatedly isolate Himself from the crowd and the disciples to pray? Some of the most notable people in the Bible significantly excelled and fulfilled God’s prophecy for their life because they were disciplined in their paths. Prayer is just one of them.
With the first week for January now in the books, many brethren across the globe are set to begin their fasting and prayer season – if they have not already. While I understand the essence of starting with God and giving your first to Him, could that be the place of discipline? That you trained your physical body to yield to the spirit man? That you give yourself to prayer to commune with God until it turns into a lifetime affair? Maybe? May your January be filled with heaven’s dew as your intent to be a disciple is anchored in discipline.
