The Proof of Discipline - Part Three

Can't believe it's been two months since I've written!! Busy? Yep. Slightly uninspired? Yea, that too.

So: back to proof of discipline. Number three was:

3) My clothes fit better (or I need new ones)

Well....I can unequivocally say that I have had to buy some new clothes!! Getting in shape has been costly - hundreds of dollars spent on new dress slacks and shirts for work. But I LIKE the way the clothes feel and fit.

So how about spiritually? How do I relate 'clothes fitting' with spiritual matters and discipline? I'll know that I'm being disciplined in my walk with God when all those loose, baggy clothes, worn specifically to hide what I didn't want people to see, are replaced by clothes that show off the new me. These clothes are a joy-filled smile, not a plastered on one. A spirit of warmth lightly draped over my shoulders as opposed to a big heavy sweater that provided some false fuzzy feeling. Yep, there are new clothes. Woohoo!!

The Proof of Discipline - Part Two

So, back to seeing the 'proof' that I'm succeeding in DISCIPLINE around quiet time, prayer and overall time with the Lord. Number 2 on my list was:

2) The numbers on the scale will be smaller.

This one took a little longer to figure out....but I think I have. In exercise, as I am determined and disciplined, I end up weighing less. The numbers on the scale DO get smaller. It's all about weight, right??

So, I'll know that I'm being disciplined in my walk with God when 'other' weights in my life diminish. First, the weight of sin. Part of my daily discussions with God are me pleading with Him to make the sinful areas of my like REALLY evident. Clearly, when I'm jealous or think something that's downright mean, I recognize that easily and ask God to take that from me immediately. But its the other stuff, the small and seemingly insignificant things, that are more difficult to see. Sometimes it's the ABSENCE of things, like when I have an opportunity to be caring or helpful and I turn the other way. Another 'weight of sin' measure is how much I'm letting my sin weigh my down. Am I distracted by guilt? Holding on to sins of the past? At one time, yes. But as I get to know and understand my saviour more I stand in the confidence of His promise to forgive. As God unshackles me from these chains, I'm free to chase after what He wants me to chase after.

Second, the weight of worry and anxiety. Ever feel helpless because you CAN NOT stop worrying about 'her diagnosis' or 'his job'? Maybe it's your kids, your parents or your own relationships? Ps 127:2 says: "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep." We don't have to worry and be anxious, rather we simply need to trust in the one who made us, who loves us, who cares for us ALWAYS. So, am I weighed down by worry and anxiety? NOT ONE BIT. Again, the more I get to know my Heavenly Father, the more I live out my determined purpose to KNOW him, the more weight I can shed.

So, do I have this 'discipline' thing down? No...not yet. Am I making progress? Absolutely! For as long as we are walking the path with Jesus our destination will be sure and true.

Wondering what Part Three will bring!

The Proof of Discipline

WOW - I am sore this morning. As I hobbled through the house early this morning, feeling my hamstrings tighten with every step and my shoulders call out for mercy, I thought about MY ONE WORD....discipline.

One of my desires around discipline is to continue exercising, to continue shedding extra pounds and unwanted jigglies in certain places.

My 'a-ha!!' moment then today is that I KNOW that I am succeeding in this area because I have proof in these ways:

1. I grunt and groan with each step because I've really worked hard lately
2. The scale shows smaller numbers
3. My clothes fit better (or I need new ones)

So, my thoughts have turned to what "proof" I'll experience that I'm being disciplined in my quiet times, my Bible reading and my prayer life. What's the equivalent of my short term "grunts and groans" from a couple of tough work outs and my longer term "weight loss / fitter body"? Could they somehow be the same? Let's see.

1. I grunt and groan with each step because I've worked really hard lately

I've already seen that as I'm more disciplined in reading God's word more and spending more time in prayer, that my shortfalls, my sins, my opportunities (that's the business spin of the word 'challenges') are way more apparent. I've asked God to point out areas in which I need to work on or rid from my life and He's not run out of them yet. So, perhaps the proof of my discipline in this area IS grunting and groaning as I'm made aware of my behavioral muscles that need work. Also, as I work on those 'opportunities' (I love that word!), it does HURT in similar ways because I'm being stretched and pushed to change some things.

I'll be back later to see if points 2 and 3 are applicable as well. Happy Thursday!

Discipline - So Far So Good!

My One Word (www.myoneword.com) for 2011 is 'discipline'. I gave a little background on why I chose this word in my last blog post....but after a week of focus I really am starting to understand what this really means to me. I knew that there were areas in my life that needed more discipline, and I've been focused on those, but in the meantime have seen additional areas raising their hands and saying 'Hey!! Don't forget me!!'

So.....in a nutshell.....here are the areas that I'm focusing on and a quick word on how it's going.

1. Prayer! This one is first and first. I've been disciplined this past week to spend time each and every day in prayer.....REAL prayer. Several times I've been moved to tears as I picture God sitting across the table from me and our simply having a conversation. Prayer is not rote recitation, it's not a prescribed checklist of 'you're great, I've sinned, I need and help others' (although touching on all these areas IS important). Prayer this past week has been becoming reacquainted with my heavenly Father and pouring out my heart to Him. Being disciplined in this area has had an amazing impact DAILY on my attitude, my focus, my joy.
   
2. Exercise! While I've been pretty disciplined in this area for the past 18mos or so, I've really tried to push myself even harder. I have, on occasion, taken a few reps off, used poor form or dropped the weights down a pound or two in order to cruise through a workout. I've been pretty successful this week doing everything at pretty close to 100%. I even UPPED the weights and can seriously feel it. LOVE to exercise....I feel so good.
   
3. Safe Driving! Yes, I've been guilty of splitting my attention between 'the road' and 'the blackberry' at times. Honestly, more times than I should. This was one of those things that was pointed out to me during prayer time.....God, show me my sin!!!.....and my carelessness while driving was thrust in my face. Ouch. So, this past week, the phone gets put up when I start driving and ONLY gets looked at if I'm at a red light. Amazingly, I'm really not missing much. =)
   
4. Quiet Time / Bible reading! This one falls in line with prayer....something I know to do and have done but haven't been disciplined about doing it consistently. I've begun reading through Proverbs this week and have chosen Titus (not sure why) as the book I'm focused on. As I learn more about God through this time I'm better able to sense His presence and direction He wishes me to take.
   
5. Work! One area I knew I needed to work on was following through on commitments I'd made at work. While I do a pretty good job and ensure my customers are taken care of....I can be a little lax on some of the tedious, mundane tasks that I'm also responsible for. Or there are those little extras that I should get done that don't always. This past week I've tried to do a better job of planning my days, listing my tasks and priorities, and then knocking them out. This one is tough.
   

So, that's the quick (NOT!) update. So far so good!!

More thoughts about My One Word....

Ok....so I've chosen the word discipline. Here's why......

There are things in my life that I KNOW deserve more attention. Things that will benefit me and others around me FAR more than some of the things I currently focus on. I know that I need to have DISCIPLINE to give the attention to these things that they require.

MyOneWord.org asked me today what I feel the biggest challenge will be to me having success with my word in 2011. What I wrote was this:

I know that I am very disciplined in that which I want to do or those things that I already excel in. The problem lies when I should be doing other things that I'm not so excited about or fear failing in. I find it difficult to have the discipline to follow through with the charge to do THOSE things! I believe that my biggest roadblock will be my schedule...as it stays overloaded I fear that I will continue to give priority to the things in my comfort zone and let the others slide.

So.....I've identified my desire and come face-to-face acknowledging what I believe my biggest hurdle to be. I will also tell you that my DISCIPLINE for the most part has been pretty darned good these past several days....these days since I chose my one word.

Discipline

I listen to K-LOVE, a national Christian radio station, pretty much every morning. Over the last couple weeks, the morning crew has been talking about choosing YOUR ONE WORD http://myoneword.org/ for the year. The thought is,

MY ONE WORD for 2011 is "DISCIPLINE".

More coming soon.....