Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1Corinthians 9:24-27
The prize? The race? What are we running for…?
We are running towards an INTENTIONAL life of peace and contentment in Christ, despite circumstances of life.
We train for a purpose. Our purpose is in Him. Our fight is for FAITH.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
So how DO we run the race?
We train for the race through the means of “discipline.”
The Art of SELF-DISCIPLINE.
For me, the word “discipline” used to carry a negative connotation.
Every time I heard the word “discipline,” I automatically associated it with some sort of negative punishment – a consequence for disobedience.
In my mind, “discipline” was a “bad” word.
Then one day I looked up the definition of the “discipline” and to my surprise, it meant nothing as I understood it.
“Discipline” is actually a verb of ACTION; it means to train.
The online Collins dictionary defines “discipline,” as the “quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards.”
Wow! That definition was far from my understanding and had literally nothing to do with punishment.
So I took the search a step further… and looked into the meaning of “discipline” according to the biblical definition.
AGAIN, my previous thought process of the word “discipline” was DENIED – it simply did NOT equate to punishment.
The online Merriam Webster dictionary further defined “discipline” as meaning to “train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control.”
WHAT?!?!
Wait?! So “discipline” is not punishment but instead a learned behavior for something to obtain in life – like self-control…? In other words, something that we strive to obtain?
Dumbfounded… I continued looking up the word “discipline” among various sources so that I could begin to grasp its true meaning.
And the sources continued putting the definition to an act (adherence) of standards, rather than a punishment…
The ELITE DAILY defined “discipline” as a way “to train a person’s mind and character, building a sense of self-control and the PRACTICE of obedience.”
And discipline “brings stability and structure into a person’s life and teaches a person to be responsible and respectful; the observance of well defined rules to the basis of society.”
WOW! NOT BAD… but orderly…literally a word meaning to train for order by learning HOW to act, be and serve in order of emotion and stability. The God I serve is a god of order!
THEN…
I understood why this positively defined word of “discipline” had previously settled into my mind as something negative…
… because I NEVER BEFORE UNDERSTOOD IT AS AN INTENTIONAL ACT THAT I FELT LIKE DOING IT! FELT like obeying standards… FELT like obeying rules…FELT like training for…
I had been previously ruled by emotions that would NOT apply the standard to enact (apply) “discipline”…thus FORTH it WAS a punishment in my mind (by my standard of definition) and not something that I wanted to intentionally “practice.”
Wait my rules??? My standard? My subjection? Oh yeah… {sarcasm intended because I was a fool}
But NOW I KNOW…
In admittance (again), “discipline” was a “bad” word before Christ because my standard of it was SUBJECTIVE (based on my standards of TRUTH) – built upon the foundation of MY standard of measure…but now, in my love for Him, I want MORE for HIM.
Standard of MEASURE is the foundation of the ART of SELF-DISCIPLINE.
Before Christ, I lived a life summarized by MY own standards, rules and regulations that I made up based upon the fluctuations of my moods.
World ways defined me and most certainly not entertained by Gods standards of living principles.
Now it made sense to me WHY the word “discipline” was BAD…a person who is acting based upon natural impulses (related to feelings) WITHOUT self-control cannot possibly see “discipline” as a positive word… (And moreover, remember the word “discipline” is a verb which means ACTION is required. In my previous mindset (it goes without saying) that ACTION on my part was not applied.)
(Eek. So how to apply a word to meaning?)
Set the standards to apply the rules while being reminded that LIFE in Christ is the key.
A life lived for Him gives us identity into who we ARE.
Knowing who we “ARE” allows us to define how we ACT. In definition, we are now able to apply truth in word by deed. (This is the action part of the verb “discipline.”)
Now the hard part…applying the ART OF SELF-DISCIPLINE by methodically executing the plans by from the model given by Him.
How?
We put the plan to pen (on paper) and then what the pen created in written form, we put into action by effort in evidence of our life lived, based upon the will of HIS WORD.
By applying His OBJECTIVE STANDARD of TRUTH as measure for self-discipline.
Yes, that means that there is an ART to SELF-DISCIPLINE.
First CREATE THE PLAN. Then WORK THE PLAN.
Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.”
Habakkuk 2:2
Why write the plan?
When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
Proverbs 29:18
We write the plan so that we methodically work the plan by reference of it. If not we fail the plan because in the moment of weakness, circumstance or weariness, we are prone to throw off the plan.
Without a long-term plan to follow, a person is subject to easily run off course, especially when the efforts (training) become difficult.
A plan is needed to sustain the course of action forward.
You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:7
The answer is in the distractions, the “persuasions,” that do not come from the one who sets the standard to the TRUTH (verse 8).
Continued in the ART of SELF-DISCIPLINE (Part 2)