HOPE Chapel

I was reflecting very recently on a passage in 2 Thessalonians where Paul talks about the need to not live an undisciplined life.  I began to consider if in fact this is what I do.

Normally, I would think of being disciplined as being able to keep my schedule, to know when to do things, to make decisions on everything systematically, to keep my actions and sins under control, and to basically be someone who could keep to any commitment or thought through sheer willpower.  But if you are like me, you know that even the most self controlled, self disciplined person in the world, eventually makes a mistake and is lulled into a time where they just can't stay disciplined, or burns out.  You know what I'm talking about.  It's like when I eat well for 2 months and then have a week where I binge on everything in sight.  Or like being careful with what I say, being positive and godly, and then letting fly in a sticky situation with some really choice words.  Or spending some time every day reading God's word for a month, but then getting sidetracked and going 2 weeks without opening it once.

I realized as I re-read the verses in question (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11 if you want to read them), I realized Paul is not talking about self-discipline.  Self discipline puts all the reliance on . . . you guessed it, self!  And since I am not perfect, I will eventually let myself down.  The discipline that Paul talks about is a life not out of control, a life that is lived thinking intentionally about what I think, say and do.  But it only comes from God.  So that means waiting for God to speak, looking to hear him prompt me at any time during my day, and then being committed to obeying whatever he puts in my mind and heart to do.  When I do that, I will not only have a disciplined life, but one of satisfaction, joy and meaning.