DISCIPLINE

Why do we despise that which is good for us? Why do we see discipline as negative, harmful, and holding us back from living our true selves?

I want another donut, just one more episode, just one more drink, just one more click, scroll or post; indulgences that lead us to hate ourselves after but in the moment feel so authentically right and deserved. You deserve it, you work so hard, you’ve had a hard day, you need to rest, chill, relax, you do so much for others, you need to do something for yourself. We convince ourselves that the things we want are the things we need, even though 100 times over, they never deliver what we hope they will.

Discipline is a scary word that comes with a sense of humiliation, correction and punishment. But what if we have been thinking wrongly about discipline; what if the real humiliation is found when all the restraints are off, and we are left to decide what is best in our own eyes, separate from community and a higher authority to guide our choices and decisions.

Discipline means many things, a few of which are:

• an activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill; training

• a branch of instruction or learning

I want that, don’t we all? I want to develop my skills and improve myself in every part of my life and being. I want to be a better follower of Jesus, wife, mom, woman. I want to be physically healthier, in better shape, feeling strong and sleeping well. I want to learn more about important things, be teachable and hungry to grow. These are the things I really desire in my life. Yet instead, I am fooled into believing that what I really want is another episode of Netflix or another bag of chips or to buy one more chunky turtleneck sweater. I am too busy and tired to exercise, so another day goes by where I convince myself that the things I truly want are unattainable and unrealistic, and I need to give myself a break and indulge some more.

The opposite of discipline is ignorance, chaos, confusion, disorder, disorganization, neglect, negligence, and permissiveness. Would anyone willingly invite these things into their life? But this is exactly how it goes. I must neglect my goals, turn a blind eye to the effects of my indulgences, justify my choices and rationalize the outcomes as to why another year has passed, and I am not any closer to where I desire to be.

Another opposite to discipline is the reward, yet when I reward my lack of discipline, I find my life in more disorder.

At the core of my being, I desire to live a life of discipline: where everything in my life is under the submission of Christ, and I walk every choice and decision empowered by the Holy Spirit. It’s not about perfection, but it is about recognizing the lies that keep me small while awakening to the TRUTH that is the way of Jesus. To live a life of discipline is to live in control: growing, learning, practicing, preparing, restrained, orderly, godly, exercising, and mastering the flesh and the enemy that desires to rule me. It’s the pursuit of living Heartstrong for the rest of my days here on earth until darkness is defeated.