Personal Discipline: Your Way Forward!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
Matthew 16:24- 25 (TM)
When I was much younger, I had always seen discipline from the negative perspective, as an instrument of punishment or as an undue imposition of patterned behavior. While these may not be totally wrong, however, I’ve come to realize that we as humans may not attain to greatness until we take responsibility AND MOVE BEYOND externally- imposed discipline and take up self-discipline for our very lives.
It was George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of Virginia Forces that said "Discipline is the soul of an Army." This piece of wisdom is as true today as it was in 1757 because discipline makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all, in his words. Show me a man who is not disciplined in managing time, finances, relationships, career, energy, moods and goals, then you have seen a man that will not attain to much in life.
Every day, the media brings up faces people behind scandals, economic and financial crimes, gross embezzlement of public funds and squandering of resources in the midst of joblessness, poverty and insecurity. But the bottom line is that all these are consequences of personal indiscipline. Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived but indiscipline made him lose it all and eventually turned his back to his source, God. See what he said, “Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day's work! Ecclesiastes 2:10- 11 (TM) And at the end he said, All is vanity.
Before you look too far away, let me ask you a few questions, do you give in to impulse in your appetite, finances and morals? Do you lead a planned life or yours is, “Qui Sera Sera” (What will be will be). Like my mom would always warn, don’t eat with your 10 fingers, save for the rainy days!
What is discipline?
It refers to self-imposed standards and restrictions motivated by a desire greater than the alternatives. To be disciplined is to make decisions dictated by a determined destiny. It is your ability to follow instructions well or living within the boundaries that you have set for yourself. Simply put, look into the future and pattern your life to get there.
A disciplined man doesn’t need to be told when to wake up for instance, he knows when. A discipline lady wouldn’t fall for just any man for money. She’s made up her mind to keep herself till ‘Mr Right’ comes.
A disciplined man learns to say NO to himself – Emmanuel Odedeyi
For Joseph, discipline wouldn’t make him sin against God by lying with his master’s wife when no one was watching. Genesis 39:9
For Daniel, discipline wouldn’t make him defile himself with the Kings meat even when he was a young guy far from home like many of us with student visas in far countries today. Daniel 1: 8
For Paul, he says, “I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself” 1 Corinthians 9: 26- 27 (TM)
For Jesus, this was how He showed discipline, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.” Hebrews 12:2 (TM)
All these, denied themselves, determined in their heart, made up their mind and they all shined in their pursuits. Oh! How we need to be disciplined.
Areas of Personal Discipline
In the beginning, man was tempted from three points, the eyes (saw that the tree was good), the taste ( the fruit was good for food) and desire for power or pride (eating the fruit would make one to be like God). But the truth is that the devil doesn’t have new tricks as our personal discipline will be assessed in these ways.
1. Your eyes
What do you look at? Do you watch pun videos, visit adult rated websites, and indulge in masturbation or lesbianism thinking no one is watching? Remember Solomon, he got everything that he looked at and eventually married 700 wives and 300 concubines. Can you beat that? But it all started from not being able to caution what you look at.
Without discipline the Army would just be a bunch of guys wearing the same color clothing. - Frank Burns
2. Your taste
Many people literarily have sky scrapers and high-rise buildings in their tummy. They are always chewing something and they can spend any amount at fast-food joints for themselves and their friends. The truth is that we must pass the appetite test to enter the promised land. The children of Israel wanted meat instead of manna, most of them didn’t get to the promised land. Jesus was also tempted to turn stone to bread, appetite. Watch what you put in your mouth, it is the quickest way to early grave! Personally, I have disciplined myself to fast at average of twice every week over the last 3 years till date. It’s medicinal and makes you focus too.
The discipline of desire is the background of character. - John Locke
3. Your desire for Power
We may not to look too far to see what some politicians would do for power. Sacrifices, oaths, killings and other dirty things. What has your desire for fame, position and power made you do? Have you stepped on others’ head to climb to the top? As job seeker, do you forged you age just to get the job? Do you give in to pressure to retain your job? How desperately do you want to “make it” by all means? Eve was deceived that eating the fruit would make them be like God forgetting that they were made in His image and likeness. Lets watch out for deception.
Sincerely, to lead a disciplined life, you need Jesus Christ in your life. Without Him, your struggle with sin and emptiness continues. Please feel free to get to chat with me or send a mail on; emmanuelmailingu@yahoo.com.
I love you.
Shall we pray,
Lord, help us to be discipline our eyes, taste, filthy desires, time, finances, energy and life to please you. Amen.
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