Do you ever wonder why some things are easy to want to do, while other things are difficult to want to do? Why is it that we seem to have no issue with wanting to do bad things? Like lying, stealing, and cheating. Yet to pray, read the Word of God, and tell the truth, these are things that must be learned.
When I was young and in high school, it would have been difficult to find a more undisciplined youth than me. I wasn’t lazy, although if it was something that didn’t interest me, I simply wouldn’t do it. However, when it came to things I had to do but still didn’t want to do, that’s where I really struggled. For example, I could not, excuse me, would not get up in the morning. I even moved my alarm clock so that I would have to get out of bed and walk across the room to turn it off. That still didn’t stop me from oversleeping and being late for school. The long and short of it was simple: if I didn’t want to do something, then I got good at finding a way not to do it.
This is a huge issue in our world today. Did you know that over 50% of New Year’s resolutions are broken within the first two weeks? While 95% of them are abandoned before January even ends. Why? Was it that the passion wasn’t there? Maybe the phrasing of the promise wasn’t right? Or possibly it was just too unrealistic?
We must recognize that we have a serious problem with self-discipline. We like to think we are not that bad with it, but are we? I ask this because God has shown me in my private life that I have come leaps and bounds from who I once was, which is great. However, that’s like being the fastest tortoise. It's better but I still have plenty of work to do. I can always get better and grow stronger in self-discipline. God has really been challenging me on this and so I now challenge you. Be honest with yourself and reflect on your own self-discipline. Is there room for improvement? Could you be reading your Bible more diligently or praying more often? Could you really be setting time aside every single day without fail just for God?
We all have a race to run according to Hebrews 12:1 which says, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Some are just starting while others have been running for years, maybe even decades. However long is not important. The thing to remember about running, according to experts, is that running is 10% physical and 90% mental. I believe that our faith has this in common with running. When will we learn that the war over sin and darkness is fought in our minds first?
1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
I challenge you today to prepare your mind and body for self-control and self-discipline. This should not be viewed as a bad thing but as an opportunity to be more like Jesus. In my opinion, Jesus was the most disciplined person to ever live. He always knew the importance of being with God, spending time in prayer, and living a life that was completely dependent on Him. We should strive to mirror this.
I encourage you to do this by simply asking yourself an honest question - am I really dedicating time to God every day? If you know you are, then great. Keep it up and be encouraged that the Lord is proud of you. If you are like me, who wanted to say yes to this question but knew in my heart this wasn’t true, then you can still be encouraged today. Yes, I said encouraged. What you are feeling is conviction and that comes from the Holy Spirit. He is in you and calling you into a deeper relationship with Him.
Take it from a fellow tortoise, start slow and steady. As you see God bless and move in the little time you give, it will put a desire in your heart to give more. With the Lord's help and the Holy Spirit’s self-control, you can and will develop healthy and fruitful habits. I pray that the Lord grows a desire in your heart to read the Word of God and to pray, not to get something from Him but to simply know God better. To understand His heart and character in a more real way. That's self-control and self-discipline, and that's the way to win the race.
