Have you ever been way too tired to open up the Bible? You’ve probably said, “you know what, I’ll wake up early to spend time with the Lord. It’s a better way to start off the day anyways!” The next morning comes, your alarm goes off and a few snoozes later, you’re already late for work…and there goes your devotional time. And it doesn’t stop there, because the cycle goes on and on…until you’ve realized that it’s been days, weeks, maybe even months that you haven’t spent time with God. This has happened to me. All because of my lack of discipline. Discipline. Not my strongest trait. I struggle with waking up at the time I said I would. I will most likely eat the last cupcake. I make little progress with being intentional about keeping in touch with people. I skip the gym way more than I care to admit. What’s worse is that I’m fully aware of my lack of discipline. It’s something that I’ve struggled with. I so desire to change! But here’s what I’ve been learning about “becoming more disciplined”:
In preparing for the World Race, I’ve realized that I literally can’t go a day without spending time with Jesus. This is something that I’ve known for a long time, but this truth has been resounding louder than ever lately. If, for whatever reason, I do “miss a day”, I feel my heart crying out. But I’m not going to lie…today was different.
I knew I wanted to spend time with the Lord, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. There was no particular reason, I just was too comfortable doing whatever I was doing. Hours and hours went by and I just didn’t want to move. I then felt super convicted, put everything away and grabbed my devotional books. It wasn’t until I really started to get into what I was reading that I felt God’s grace come over me. I was so selfish. So selfishly stuck on wanting to chill for the night and do my own thing. God spoke to me on discipline tonight. He reminded me that I needed to create better habits in order to make things happen.
I am well aware that God will never leave me. I know I need to fully rely on Him for strength and guidance. But I also know that “for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required.” I can’t just dream for this World Race to happen. I need to work for it to happen. I believe that God will provide. I know that He will. But it would be foolish of me to just sit back and assume God will do all the work. He is almighty, so He is able to! But I believe that in His wisdom and love, He won’t. God loves us too much to miss out on a teachable moment. I don’t think God wants us to just enjoy a life in His grace, but I believe God wants us to live a life growing in His grace. When God calls us, he uses verbs.
“Be fruitful and multiply.”
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The list goes on and on. But God doesn’t call without require us to act! We are too quick to think that we need to have it all together to be called. When in reality, when God calls us, it’s only when we say “yes” that the process of preparation begins. In Hebrews 13:21 it says that He will “make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.” He prepares us to work. He diligently prepares us.
My prayer tonight is that God may continue to help me as I strive towards becoming a more disciplined person. I do not want to miss out on all that He has in store due to the lack of discipline in my life. I pray that the trait of discipline be deeply woven into my character. That even when I feel like I’m getting too tired, too comfortable, too LAZY, He may be there to remind me to diligently strive to overcome that. I know that ONLY through Him, I can (and already have) overcome!
Grace and Peace.
