Disciplined
Discipline is an important concept in all aspects of life. Discipline is defined by the online Cambridge Dictionary as, “training that makes people more willing to obey or more able to control themselves, often in the form of rules, and punishments if these are broken, or the behavior produced by this training.”
Discipline is a part of parenting, work, athletics, school, being a citizen, following Christ, etc. It is also present in physical fitness. For example, my husband told me that at his jiu-jitsu gym, if you step on a certain mat, you must do fifty burpees.
However, I’m going to focus on a specific type of discipline, self-discipline, which is defined as “the ability to make yourself do something, even if it is difficult, so that you can achieve a goal.”
Self-discipline also applies to all areas of life. It can be difficult to sustain, but the Bible instructs us, in Hebrews 12:11, of the rewards that stem from self-discipline. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Be disciplined. Never quit. Don’t allow failure. These are mantras people use to encourage others to meet physical fitness goals; however, I feel they are great for anything one does.
Additionally, the following are some words of advice posted on Facebook by my husband to encourage others to meet their health goals: “Don’t do nothing. Do a little each day and over time it turns into big things.” “It’s supposed to be hard. Keep going. Keep growing.” “Not seeing results? Feel like giving up? Consider this: the LAST thing to grow on a fruit tree is the fruit.” “Keep going because you did not come this far just to come this far.”
I again feel this advice is applicable to any portion of one’s life. For example, marriage is like physical fitness in that you only get out of it what you put into it.
If you read my blog, you know I’m going through a divorce. I just returned from a lengthy trip, so everything was sort of on hold during that time. After many prayers during my trip, I felt that I needed to make one final effort to try to salvage my marriage. I wanted no gut-wrenching regrets on my part, always wondering if only. Therefore, I asked to speak to my husband upon returning, and one of the things I brought up was just what I’ve written above.
I know I am majorly biased right now and still working on that bitter pill (we all have our evils), so please forgive me. Nevertheless, it’s hard for me to comprehend how such motivational advice and an enormous amount of time and effort can be placed on a single aspect of one’s life while the exact opposite is true regarding other areas.
We often lack self-discipline because we avoid things that are hard or uncomfortable and instead veer toward the easy and familiar. We make excuses or turn toward distractions. However, the Bible instructs, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize,” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).
When you have a physical fitness goal and your current exercise and dieting methods aren’t working, do you throw in the towel and give up, or do you try something different? If you’re losing a ball game, do you keep everything the same or do you try a new play or make a substitution? If a project at work isn’t going as planned, do you quit or do you come up with a new idea or ask for help from those who have more experience? If you’re not seeing the results you want in your marriage or with child-rearing, do you call it quits or try something different, seeking counsel until you start seeing positive returns?
When you stop exercising, your body weakens, tires, and becomes soft and out of shape. When you stop putting time and effort into your marriage, it’s going to become unhealthy, weak, and tiring as well. The same can be said of your walk with the Lord. Nurture it, and you’ll see growth. Neglect it, and it will falter.
Furthermore, results don’t show up overnight. You don’t get a six-pack in a week or even a year for many. Likewise, marriage is a long-term commitment that you must dedicate time and effort to every single day to make it succeed. The same can be said about your life as a Christian. If you don’t spend daily time in the Bible, in prayer, in fellowship with other believers, and doing the things God has called you to do, your Christian walk and relationship with the Lord suffers.
While my talk with my husband was all for naught, at least I can say I tried a final time and got some closure. No regrets. Instead, I will strive to remain disciplined in other areas of my life and focus on accomplishing the things that God has planned for me.
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline,” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Determination
Determination is to defy obstacles, to overcome setbacks, to stay when it’s hard, to keep going although it’s easier to quit. It sounds a lot like discipline.
At the beginning of 2024, I made two major resolutions to upkeep this year. The first was to grow in God’s Word by reading the entire Bible following a daily plan. The second was keeping my body healthy by working out at least 30 minutes at least five days each week.
It is hard to stick to a routine, especially when you have so many other things vying for your time and attention. Additionally, when you go on a vacation or a trip, your normal routine often falls apart, which can often be a good thing. In fact, that’s the whole point of a vacation, to get away from the mundane and the stressors of life. However, when you have goals, you don’t want to fail just because you’re out of town.
I just returned from fifteen days in Europe. Going there, I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit in time for daily exercise and Bible study. I didn’t want an amazing trip to cause regret if I botched my goals. However, through determination, prayer, and creativity, I got it done.
Our hotel in Paris was the only one on the entire trip that had an exercise room. Therefore, it was easy to go down and get on the elliptical for thirty minutes. In London, there were seventeen floors in our hotel, so I ran up and down seventeen flights of stairs for thirty minutes every day we were there. In Switzerland, I went hiking for thirty minutes. In Germany and Austria, I ran through the villages for thirty minutes. I used whatever was available and pushed myself to do it whenever I had free time, which was usually between 5-6 AM.
It was much easier to keep up with my Bible readings every day. I made it an intentional habit to take time each morning to devote to the Lord and His Word. If I didn’t, I knew other activities would creep in as they do and take precedence.
Jesus Himself exemplified the importance of quiet time with God the Father. The Bible describes how Jesus would often get up early to pray in a solitary location. While we don’t know the subject of all His prayers, the content doesn’t matter, just the willingness to maintain that consistent relationship with our Father.
“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed,” (Mark 1:35). It’s important that instead of trying to fit time with God into your busy day to take that time before it gets busy.
Looking in the Bible, we can find many examples of determined men and women. However, one of the most determined followers of Jesus was Mary Magdalene. You can read more about her in Matthew 27:55-56, Luke 8:1-3 and 23:55-24:11, and John 19:25 and 20:1-18.
We know that Mary had a troubled past, but through that experience and her healing by Jesus, she became one of His most devoted disciples. “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means,” (Luke 8:1-3).
We know that Mary Magdalene was at times a more faithful and determined servant to Jesus than even His chosen twelve disciples. When the twelve fled both before and after Jesus’ crucifixion, we find that Mary Magdalene was both at the foot of the cross and at the entrance to the tomb.
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene,” (John 19:25). “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’” (John 20:1-2).
An even greater testament to Mary Magdalene’s faith and determination is the fact that she was the first person whom Jesus revealed himself to after His resurrection as written in John 20:11-18.
It can be difficult to devote time to the Lord each day and do the things He has called you to do. However, if we consistently and determinedly seek Him to help us conquer our daily goals, we can’t lose, for “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” (Phillipians 4:13).
Additionally, we won’t have the regret of giving up when times get hard. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope,” (Romans 15:4).
Defer to God
Life is hard. Oftentimes, bad things happen that we don’t understand. I have obviously been struggling with why God isn’t intervening in my marriage. I have prayed so long and so hard, prayed for a miracle in fact because that is what it would take at this point, but despite that, there’s been no change.
I don’t know why this is happening to my family and me, and it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t want a divorce for many reasons, especially because I don’t believe in quitting. If you know me, you know I’m a competitive person, and divorce feels like failure and hurts all involved.
However, I know that sometimes God calls us to do things we don’t want to do. That may be facing a great fear, accepting things we would rather not, or giving up something or someone we love. “In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples,” (Luke 14:33).
Following the Lord often requires great sacrifice, and that can be a heavy burden at times. Even Jesus had difficulty accepting the upcoming pain and trials He would face, as we learn through His prayers to the Father on the Mount of Olives.
“’Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground,” (Luke 22:42-44). Have you ever prayed so intensely? I have, especially recently, but instead of sweat falling to the ground, it has been tears.
Despite His struggle, Jesus deferred to God’s guidance and plans because doing God’s will was more important than Jesus’ own comfort. The same can be said for us. We are each called by God to journey down difficult paths for the sake of His glory.
If it is God’s will that my marriage fails, I must defer to Him and believe that He has better plans for me, even though I don’t understand it. Although I am suffering emotionally and physically through this trial in my life, I know that God never promised that things would be easy, just that He would be there through it all.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all,” (Psalm 34:17-19).
Finally, everyone has regrets. The important part is not allowing them to overtake your life or hinder your walk with Christ. Every day we have a choice to defer our lives to God or to be defeated by fears and regrets.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast,” (1 Peter 5:10).
If you’ve made bad choices in life, ask God for forgiveness and direction to move forward. If you’re dealing with difficult circumstances in life right now, ask God for the grace to overcome the trial and the hurt. If you feel the need to reach out to someone who has done you wrong or whom you’ve hurt, do so, even if they reject you.
Be disciplined in all aspects of your life, but especially in your faith. Be determined that despite trials and tribulations, you will persevere. Defer to the Lord because His way is always better than ours.
Despite my difficulties, I will continue to earnestly pray and to believe that what is meant to be, will be in my life. I hope you will do the same regarding your life. No regrets!
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him,” (James 1:12).
Have a blessed week!
-Becky
