Christian Discipline

Self-discipline has so many applications in so many areas of our lives. Success in almost anything requires an attitude of self-discipline. In order to succeed at school we must be disciplined enough to apply ourselves to our studies continuously. Keeping healthy requires that we discipline ourselves and hold back on some of the things that we would love to eat. It also takes discipline to stick to an exercise regimen.

The same holds true for our Christian walk. It takes discipline to wake up an hour earlier every morning to spend extra time in prayer. It takes discipline to make changes to your lifestyle. It takes discipline to walk away from relationships that are damaging to your Christian life. Self-discipline therefore is an essential attribute for maintaining a healthy Christian life, just as it is essential in our natural lives.

How then do you build discipline? Good question. I've been trying to develop mine for a very long time now. I still have not arrived, but I can tell you what has worked for me so far.

First and foremost, in order to be disciplined and diligent about anything, you have to want it. That thing has to be part of your bigger life goals. For example, you will only be disciplined about school work if earning a degree someday is part of the larger goals you have for your life. If you aren't all that interested in school and what lies beyond it, then you won't apply yourself to it. The same is true with Christianity. If you aren't interested in a deep relationship with God then there will be no desire to make the extra effort required to build one. So step one in the process towards discipline is to analyze your wants. Do you want a deeper relationship with God?

After you know what you want, you must make some kind of effort towards gaining it right? You can't expect to just sit still and watch things happen. Nothing will ever happen that way. So the next step is to actually move. Do something. Set your alarm. Set reminders on your computer. Put up stickers in your room to remind you. Do what it takes. Like the Nike slogan says, just do it. Sometimes we just need to get off our butts and just do what you need to do. Nobody else can do it for you. The effort must be yours. So really this process of discipline is actually about you. What do you want and how are you planning to get it? It will always start and end with you actually doing something. So one day at a time, one step at a time DO SOMETHING. Get up, get going!

If you want the power of God to manifest even greater in your life, then you have to do something. Build your relationship, spend the time growing your spiritual muscles. Get moving!

Have a discipline-filled day!    

Joana James - Author of From Redemption to Maturity,   Nightmare at Emerald High & Alana and Alyssa's Secret & Finding Romeo