How To Be Personally Disciplined

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Posted on: 22nd Mar 2014

I imagine many of you follow the Olympics on TV every couple of years. Every time the Olympics come around I am absolutely amazed at the pure athleticism that is displayed at the different events. One competitor after another lines up, and demonstrates a level of skill that is far beyond what any of us would be capable of doing. We are able to witness the muscles that have been developed for a specific sport, the focus of people who know exactly what they are there for, and the poise of a determined athlete. What we are watching is the end result of many years of training that comes from a person who is so disciplined that they have laid everything on the line to become the best they can possibly be in their particular event.

While I would venture to guess that none of us have the physical discipline of an Olympic athlete, we are called to a discipline that in the grand scheme of things, is much more important.

�Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. � 1 Timothy 4:7b-8

As we begin this chapter of Proverbs for life, I want us to focus on what Proverbs tells us about personal discipline. And while the principles we look at can apply to any area of our lives, I especially want to focus on the spiritual disciplines � things like prayer, Bible reading, fasting, and this type of thing.

What I am talking about is becoming a fine-tuned, highly disciplined person, when it comes to developing yourself into the person God wants you to become. Just like an athlete needs to work out his/her body in a certain way to be able to compete physically, we need to work our spirits in such a way that makes us more attuned to God and His direction for our lives.

1. RAISE YOUR STANDARDS HIGHER

What expectations do you have for yourself when it comes to your relationship with God? What do you expect in regard to your prayer life? What do you expect in regard to your time in God�s Word? If your expectations are low, most likely you will achieve very little. The fact is that most people have very low standards in these areas. Consider the Bible � the Bible is God�s revelation of Himself to human kind, but sadly, even most Christians are highly illiterate when it comes to God�s Word.

"Americans revere the Bible - but, by and large, they don't read it. And because they don't read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates." - George Gallup and Jim Castelli

Consider these results from recent surveys by George Barna:
*Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels.
*Many professing Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples.
*60% of Americans can't name even five of the Ten Commandments.
*82% of Americans believe God helps those who help themselves is a Bible verse.
*12% of adults believe that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
*A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50% thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.
*A considerable number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham.

-- "Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate." - George Barna

Obviously, we have some big problems to overcome, and it starts with us as individuals raising the standard of personal expectation. At some level, you can usually gauge how much spiritual success you will attain, by what your expectations are going in.

In my experience most of us set our expectations way too low, and those low expectations lead to a life that is not lived in the fullness of God. So my question to you today is this � do you really want to draw closer to God? Do you really desire to be in a dynamic relationship with Him? If so, then you need to raise your personal standard � how much time are you willing to devote to your time with God? If it�s five minutes per day, then don�t expect to grow very much, if it is one hour, then you can expect much more.

It isn�t as if time spent with God is the only factor, but I�m using that as an example of how our personal dedication to God will be reflected in how much more knowledgeable about Him we will grow, and how much closer to Him we will be. We have to dedicate ourselves to cherish every moment we have with God�s Word, and every minute we spend with Him in prayer. Only when we raise that standard of expectation will we be ready to acquire the discipline necessary.

To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. � Proverbs 19:8

The most important understanding that we will ever have is our understanding of God, our relationship with Him, and our place in this world. And what I am asking you to do today is to dedicate yourself to raising the bar of expectation in your spiritual life.

If right now you are spending zero time with God in prayer, raise the bar to 10 minutes or 20 minutes per day � if you�re spending 20 minutes it, raise it to 30. If you are reading none of the Bible right now, why not read 2 chapters a day? If you�re reading 2 chapters now, why not bump it up to 4 or 5? Begin searching for ways to increase the time you spend with God, as well as the quality of that time, just like you would in building a relationship with your spouse.

Also, are you taking advantage of the opportunities in your area that are offered for growth? Are you attending a Sunday School class, small group, or perhaps attending a Bible study, or book club? All of these are designed to help you raise the standard in your spiritual life.

Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them. � Proverbs 18:15

What ideas have you been open to in raising the bar in your time with God? If you haven�t been open, don�t worry about what you haven�t done in the past; instead, start planning now on how you will raise the bar in the future.

2. ACCEPT DELAYED GRATIFICATION

Now what I�m about to tell you is probably going to go against your nature, because we live in a society that expects, and receives, instant gratification in almost every area of life. We have microwave popcorn, online banking, downloadable books, MP3 music files, e-mail, plastic surgery, pay-per-view movies, and the list goes on and on.

We are used to having almost every desire in our lives satisfied within seconds. - Even my dog expects instant gratification � we give him a dog biscuit when he comes in from going to the bathroom outside � and if he doesn�t get it right away, he will follow you around until you give it to him � our old dog used to bark at us.

But the truth of the matter is, the best things in life are the things that we have to work toward, and wait for.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. � Proverbs 13:12

The fact of the matter is, you might raise your personal standard, and start spending more and better time with God, and not notice a huge difference right away. And some people get real disappointed because they don�t think things are happening fast enough, so they just give up and go back to their old habits. The sad thing is, they might have been a few days or weeks away from a spiritual breakthrough that they never experienced, because they didn�t understand the blessing of delayed gratification.

We have to be disciplined enough that we are willing to wait for the blessings to come our way and do the day-to-day things that are necessary for that to happen. You don�t become an Olympic athlete overnight � it takes daily discipline in conditioning, diet, personal training, and so forth. And you don�t become a spiritual giant over night � it is the daily routine of prayer, Bible reading, and thinking upon the things of God that will eventually lead you to a position of spiritual strength and vitality. And the truth of the matter is, sometimes it�s hard and you don�t feel like doing it.

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening�it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. � Hebrews 12:11

If you are willing to wait for the blessing, you will be well on your way to being a personally disciplined individual.

3. FOCUS ON YOUR HEART, MIND, AND ACTIONS

There are many areas of our lives where we need to be disciplined, but these are the most important � once we have this down, the rest will be much easier. The heart is the seat of your emotions, the mind is the seat of your intellect, and your actions are reflective of what you believe in your heart and mind. If you want your life to take a positive turn, you must focus your efforts at personal discipline in these three areas.

The writer of Proverbs was talking, as he often does, about being receptive to God�s wisdom � he then gives us this promise:

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. � Proverbs 2:9-11

This covers the three areas of focus that are necessary. When we fill our minds with the things of God, our hearts will be transformed, and our actions will follow the lead of our heart.

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. � Romans 12:2 (MSG)

Now the way to begin this process of transformation is to take God�s Word and read it, and pray through it, and get to know Him better. And I don�t want to just read the Word; I want to experience it, by taking what I have learned and putting it into practice. There is nothing sadder than a person who has lots of head knowledge about God, but doesn�t know how to live out the kind of life God�s Word has revealed to them. To actually put God�s Word into practice I need to be personally disciplined enough that as I read it, I am constantly evaluating my heart against what God has revealed.

For instance, let�s say I�m reading through Proverbs and I come across this passage:

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, "Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you." � Proverbs 3:27-28

Now I�m going to evaluate my life by the Word of God by asking these questions: �Am I withholding from those whom it is in my power to help? Have I been stingy and lacking in generosity?� If the answer is, �Yes, I�m not living up to God�s standard� then I need to change that right away and begin to be a generous person.

You see the pattern�I�ve learned something intellectually��God wants me to help those I can.��It�s affected me emotionally��God wants me to find those in need� � and it�s effected my actions � �Tomorrow, I�m going to give $20.00 to my friend.�

This simple pattern works for our relationships, our moral and ethical values, and every possible area of our lives. Go to God�s Word, learn what He says, let it transform your heart, and then apply the truth that you�ve learned � that�s all there is to it.

4. DECIDE TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW

There is a fictional story I once heard where Satan called to himself the emissaries of hell and said he wanted to send one of them to earth to aid women and men in the ruination of their souls. He asked which one would want to go. One creature came forward and said, "I will go." Satan said, "If I send you, what will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I will tell the children of men that there is no heaven."

Satan said, "They won�t believe you, for there is a bit of heaven in every human heart. In the end everyone knows that right and good must have the victory. You may not go." Then another came forward, darker and fouler than the first. Satan said, "If I send you, what will you tell the children of men?" He said, "I will tell them there is no hell." Satan looked at him and said, "Oh, no; they won�t believe you, for in every human heart there's a thing called conscience, an inner voice which testifies to the truth that not only will good be triumphant, but that evil will be defeated. You may not go." Then one last creature came forward, this one from the darkest place of all. Satan said to him, "And if I send you, what will you say to women and men to aid them in the destruction of their souls?" He said, "I will tell them there is no hurry." � Satan said, "Go!"

It�s a fictional story, but the point finds its basis in reality. I have no doubt that there are some reading this right now thinking, �This personal discipline thing sounds like just what I need. I�ll start as soon as�(fill in the blank).

And if that is what you�re thinking, you will never get around to this. You need to make a decision right now that you are going to follow through. I can�t make your decision for you, and you can�t make mine for me. We are each personally responsible for deciding that today is the day that we are going to get on track and begin following God�s principles for personal discipline. This is the first step that will take you down the path of spiritual maturity � but you have to make a conscious decision to do it right now.

tomorrow

During the Winter Olympics my wife and I watched the women�s skating competition. I looked at her and said, �It�s amazing how physically disciplined these women are � they�ve trained themselves in every possible way, every day, for most of their lives, so that they can compete at this level.� What about us? Are we willing to go into spiritual training? Is what God wants from us more important than physical training? More important than the Olympics? Of course it is � now it�s up to each of us to start taking the steps necessary, right now.

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How To Be Personally Disciplined

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