Positive growth in anything we involve ourselves is majorly rooted on self-disciplines. Before other disciplines can be administered, whether in the home, business, or church, there first must be self-discipline. Self-discipline means to exercise power over one’s self. It is the ability to keep one’s self under control. It’s the unbreakable determination to keep doing what you should be doing, no matter what obstacles, opportunities, or distractions appear on your journey. To live an organized life, we human must train ourselves determinedly to maintain appreciable standard of living. A definition from MindTools blog says: “Self-discipline is the ability to push yourself forward, stay motivated, and take action, regardless of how you are feeling, physically and emotionally.”
In living an organized life, we must discipline ourselves in all things to gain self-control over the desires of the flesh which will give us bad names. We must live above laziness and build ourselves into “healthy workaholic” person. As Christians, we should train ourselves never to be guilty of doing what the worldly people do (Rom. 2: 2). We should restrain ourselves from speaking evil against others. Our words are to be graciously seasoned with salt by trying never to offend in use of words (Col. 4: 6). King David asked God to “Set a guard over his mouth who will keep watch over the door of his lips (Psa. 141: 3). Self-discipline should involve controlling our appetites for foods too. We must apply self-discipline so as not to fall easily into immoral habits (1 Thess. 4: 3 – 8). There are several ways we should employ self-discipline so as to be seen as respectable and self-organized persons. This is not merely to be accepted by people but to be approved by God our creator. The Bible talked in favour of discipline ourselves in the ways we spend our money (Prov. 21: 20).
Living an organized life through self-discipline can be likened to Apostle Paul’s use of “plummel” his body (1 Cor. 9: 27). He means he disciplines his body and keeps it under control by making sure he never did what he preached against. The verse reads in New America Standard Bible thus: “…but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” It is very unfortunate that many people in this present age have trashed teaching of discipline, embracing the easy living lifestyles. But God still want to see people living by self-disciplines.
PRAYER:
HOLY SPIRIT OF JEHOVAH, teach me self-discipline for I want to be useful to myself and other fellow human beings in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch