7.28.12

Proverbs 5:23 He will die for lack of self-control (on version uses the word discipline here); he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

My Thoughts

Discipline is so important in all parts of our lives. It is most important in our relationship with God...we need to discipline ourselves enough to make time in our busy days for God. In prayer and studying His word... it is one of the most life altering disciplines we can develop. 

Discipline is important too in our jobs, in our chores, in how we manage money, in how we manage our anger, in how we manage our love. If we are having a problem in any area of our lives one of the first things we can do is ask ourselves "Am I disciplined in this area?" then we need to be completely honest with ourselves when we answer that question.  If the answer is no... we need to get busy making a plan. Using self-control to put off our "want to's" until our "have to's" are done. We need to think of our "have to's" not as a burden...but as the steps to a better life.  Look at the whole picture when we are examining our "have to's" and see them as "if's and then's." ...the Bible is full of "if's and then's."  If Moses lifted his staff, God would part the sea.  If Noah built the ark, God would save him and his family.  If Joshua and his army marched around the walls of Jericho, then God would make the walls fall down. 

If we spend time with God, we will become more loving people.  If we manage our money we will have money when we need it. If we eat good foods we will be healither. If we go to work we will get a paycheck on Friday. 

I think so often we see the "if's" and don't look to the "then's" and that makes the "if's" seem not worth it.  And so often we want the "then's" and think we don't need to do the "if's."  Many times we use our credit cards to get the "then's" then doing the "if" part seems like it has no reward because we rewarded ourselves first. Our lives are so much better if we put things in their proper order... if we do the "if's" and wait on the "then's."  We can also get started on our "if's" so much easier if we will stop and pinpoint the "then's."  For instance if we need to eat healthier that is so much easier if we take time to truly pinpoint all the "then's" of eating healthy...then we can see the "if's" as a stepping stone to the "then" instead of seeing the "if" as a hardship.

The key is discipline and self control... and how we look at discipline and self control makes all the difference. If we choose to see the "if's" as stepping stones to our "then's" then the rewards for our "if's" are so much sweeter.