ARE YOU DISCIPLINED? REALLY?

Discipline is something I know lots about after a stint of six years in the US Army. You have to be disciplined to follow orders in the Armed Forces or you do not succeed. If you are not disciplined when you go in you surely will be when you get out or they will perhaps put you out earlier than expected.

 Discipline comes in many forms, You must be disciplined to wake up in the morning and get to work or you will get fired. You must be disciplined to control your emotions or words or you could get in serious trouble. You must have discipline to not eat too much or you will become overweight. You must be disciplined to work out to keep in shape. You must be disciplined to follow rules of society or you will get into big trouble.Your parents hopefully instilled discipline in you as a child that if you had children you passed on to them.

The best discipline that many seem to forget about or put off to the side is the discipline of staying in the word of God. I did not say 'going to church' which is important but disciplined to grow in Christ on a daily basis through prayer and reading the word of God. Maybe you have no desire to do something other than Sunday. Then I would ask you to examine your heart and see if you ever truly asked Jesus to be Lord of your life. When you love someone you want to be with them all the time. Do you feel that way about Jesus?

2 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to show thyself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."  Hebrews 12:11 says " No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace by those who have been trained by it."
If you are not disciplined and feel joyful about reading the Bible ask God to help you. Matthew 22:37 says " love the Lord your God with all your heart,soul, and mind."

PRAYER: Lord I know Satan would distract me from getting into the word and knowing you better. The things of this world may try to lure me away. Give me your strength to make daily Bible reading part of my every day life. In Jesus name. Amen.