Are you disciplined? In His Word 8-21
As Christians
we need to be disciplined in the Word, we need to be strong enough to know the
Word and be supported by its teamwork of believers. Just as an athlete must be
disciplined physically for whatever sport he is called to play so do we as
Christians need to be ready and spiritually fit. So how are we going to get
geared up and ready to get in the game?
In His Word!
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one
person gets the prize? So run to win! 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. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
In order to
get ready to do anything in life that is worth while you need to get prepared
for it. You study to show yourselves approved by those in authority over you or
your clients depending on what job you do. In the same way we need to be
prepared in the Word. We need the tools to take with us; the Bible, a note book
and a pen; or a device that has all of these things attached. Then the most
important items in disciplining yourself are time and an attitude of learning.
We may have to endure hardship as we are trained up to become the persons God wants us to be; but He is there with us and He will help us through the training.
I can remember in High School Track and Field, the first two weeks of the season were grueling! Our couches worked us harder than the rest of the season because they knew we were probably not disciplining ourselves prior to that season and that they had to jump start us into action. During those two weeks of hard work we would learn conditioning that could stay with us for a lifetime. That is because they wanted us to be strong and healthy and do our best.
Christ wants
us to condition our hearts and minds to do our best to life the life He has
called us to. This is why we need to start our day in prayer and devotion time
to God. Then we can go on to do what ever we need to do in the day and be ready
for it.
Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ
Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life,
for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the
rules. And hardworking farmers should be the first to
enjoy the fruit of their labor. Think
about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
2 Timothy
2:3-7
Sometimes
being disciplined in the Word of God means to get up early, really early to
take at least fifteen minutes to read and think on His Word. Honestly, in the beginning
it’s a struggle to get up and add that to your busy schedule; the struggle is
worth it. You may have to put aside something else you do in your morning
routine, stopping for coffee or tea could give you enough time to read. Better
yet have that coffee and tea steaming away while you read.
It takes
discipline to create a habit of reading and praying in the mornings, or any
time you set aside. I choose mornings because it gives me a great attitude to
start the way with. God is so awesome the way He can wake us up with a song,
and lead us to the Word that He wrote just for that moment in our lives when we
really needed to read it.
But it’s not
just for one day.
When you
accepted that Jesus is real, and decided to make Him, or allow Him to be a part
of your life; you made a commitment. It was not a one time thing, it was a
lifetime thing. I was not one of the track team members who went on to
collegiate sports because I did not make it a commitment to run, toss or put
myself into the sport daily. I allowed other things to get into my commitment
mode.
Instead I became a writer. To write is not a
one time or even a once a year event; it takes discipline to become a somewhat
good writer, even one like me!
I have to put
time into it, I have to give up doing other things I would love to do in order
to write.
Where your
treasure is there will your heart also be. Make God your treasure and your
heart will be in rising up to meet Him daily. You will hunger for His Word each
morning as you awake. But it takes discipline. Your body will try to
distract you from climbing out of bed
early, just as mine used to complain when I started a season of working out.
Eventually we
all find that niche where we can fit it in and enjoy the moments with our Lord.
That is when we need to do it and do not stop!
Keep in the
Word, and keep in prayer daily and you will find things not just go smoother
but that things will be easier to tackle when you run into a speed bump in your
day.
Take some time
to pray, now even if you can, and as God when the best time in your day to meet
with Him. Then let it be known that people should not bother you while you are
reading and praying; you will be amazed at the respect you will receive when
you choose to let them know you are reading the Word.
Dear Heavenly
Father, Help us all to get into the Word You have given us to learn from. Remove
all obstacles from our path today. Help us to gain strength for tomorrow and
hope for today as we discipline ourselves in the Word, in Jesus name, amen.
Reading for
more: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, 2 Timothy 2: 1-26, Romans 9: 1-33, and Romans 8:1-39.