In the cases for eating healthy, maintaining an exercise routine, and growing spiritually, all of the good intentions in the world will never be able to take place of action. And the key here is the word routine. A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed. We need to be consistent and we need to be disciplined.
Self discipline is entirely internal. It is a drive and motivation that come solely from within. It is a battle between the flesh and the spirit. And, it is almost never easy. Even The Apostle Paul struggled with self control, stating in Romans, “I have discovered this principle in life- that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind” (7:21-23 NLT). It stands to reason that we should not expect for discipline and self control to come easily.
However, it is attainable. Our verse today tells us how.
Examine yourself, test yourself.
Are there external causes for your failure to become disciplined? Are you willing to remove those factors from your life to grow spiritually? I know I’m going to tread on thin ice here but…I had to totally delete my Facebook account. It was consuming time that I could have been, correction, should have been spending in God’s Word. So, examine yourself. Do you want to grow spiritually badly enough to cut out a little “me time” and replace it with “He time”? Test yourself. Can you commit to a significant change for an entire month? “I’m not strong enough”, you say? No. You’re not…but God is. He tells us, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)
Will you let Him be enough today, this month, this year?
Let‘s begin the new year on the right foot. Let’s figure out what God’s will is, grab a friend, get motivated, get active, and get control of our spiritual growth! You’ll be so glad you did!
By Grace Alone,
Tracey
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