Rentless

Scripture

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" -1 Corinthians 9:27 

One of the best things we can do for ourselves is practice and become proficient at self-discipline. It's a key ingredient to our victory in Christ. Living a disciplined life brings us closer to the Father. You will consistently do the things that it takes to draw closer to Him, no matter what you are feeling or facing.  See, this is discipline.  It's self-control, consistency, and a commitment. These traits have nothing to do with your motivation or feelings. Though enjoying a deeper fellowship with God is a wonderful benefit of a disciplined life, God desires that we apply discipline to all aspects of our lives. 

3 John 1:2 states, "I wish that you prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers". John wasn't just speaking of our spiritual well-being. He wanted the readers' material and physical well-being to prosper to the same degree as their spiritual life prospered. God desires for His children to live disciplined lives because it helps us to fulfill His purpose for our lives. As you know, Beloved, not everyone is called to preach behind a pulpit in church. Many are called to the marketplace and other areas to be the light in dark places. This requires building careers and pursuing different professions. If we submit, the Holy Spirit will guide us on how to apply discipline to our lives to fulfill our calling. 

If we allow it, discipline will shape our destiny. What does this look like? A disciplined life means getting up early and doing what needs to be done when everyone else is asleep, and it means fasting when your flesh is screaming. It means saying no when you want to say yes. It means shifting your schedule to accommodate what is going to yield the best results for achieving your goals. It means structuring your time to complete projects. It means shutting off your phone and turning off your notifications to minimize distractions while you're working. It means getting up when the Holy Spirit unctions you to pray, no matter the time. It means not letting your desires dictate your actions. It means reading and listening to books that will help you get better at your craft. Paul painted the picture of an athlete's rigorous training to achieve success, to parallel our need for self-discipline. Beloved, I think we've done enough compromising.  God will give us the dreams and tools to fulfill them, but He will not build our good habits for us. We can't have public influence without submitting to private discipline. Change your world today, Beloved. 

Prayer

Father, we submit to self-discipline. We thank you that you've given us the tools to be successful in the Kingdom. We pray for your divine empowerment to be consistent. May our lives be a living testimony. In Jesus' name. Amen