I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. (Psalm 119:99, New International Version)

³ When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?  (Psalm 8:3 – 4, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Discovery

Reflection:

Isaac Newton is one of the greatest scientists and mathematicians to ever live.  For over two decades he observed falling objects and the motion of objects such as the moon and was able to explain the law of gravity.  Many other significant discoveries throughout history have resulted from disciplined examinations of nature.  Consider for example the contributions of Leonardo da Vinci, and the Wright brothers (Orville and Wilbur) to human flight.  The disciplined examination of nature by these individuals is well documented.  For example, they spent many hours examining and documenting the flight of birds.  These individuals have had a profound impact on human progress because of their disciplined focus.   

As I consider the Scripture passages above and similar passages in the book of Psalms (e.g., Psalms 19 and 104) I see a similar pattern of discipline leading to discovery.  David gains insight from meditating on God’s word, and discovers truths about God and mankind through disciplined examination of nature.   

Conclusion:

Significant discoveries often result from focused examinations.  In our distraction filled world, focused examination of anything seems like a luxury.  We lose spiritual discoveries when we are not disciplined enough in our examination of God’s word and his creation.   How do you incorporate distraction free examination of God’s word and creation into your life?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: Norman Christie

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  (Galatians 5:22 – 23, New International Version)

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Deity

Reflection:

Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) refer to a “power greater than ourselves,” which for many translates to a deity.  It should come as no surprise that there has been a longstanding debate about the necessity of including God or any higher power in programs like AA.  In many facets of life, there are examples of people who have exhibited extraordinary discipline without any reliance on God.  So, why does God have to factor into the equation?  Why not rely on individual will power and if necessary, use resources such as self-help books, coaches, or gurus? 

I believe our Scripture passages today address these questions for the believer.  The passage in Galatians declares that God is not a bystander in the matter of discipline because self-control (which can also be translated as self-discipline) is included in the fruit of the Spirit.  The passage from Philippians reminds us that God works in us to fulfill his purpose.  When God is involved He fulfills what is right. 

Conclusion:

We do not have to pursue self-discipline by ourselves! We want God in the equation because he is the essential source of our ability to fulfill His purpose.  Without Him in the equation, other purposes can be fulfilled with discipline but there is no guarantee that they are God’s purposes.  As Christians, we have the opportunity to show the world why and how God makes a difference.   How can you show the world the difference God makes in your pursuit of self-discipline?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: Norman Christie

⁶ So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.  Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, ⁷ and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”  ⁸ But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”  (Genesis 39:6 – 9, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Defiance

Reflection:

Many disciplined individuals at times exhibit a defiant or stubborn streak in the face of powerful opposition.  When obstacles arise, they stick to their resolve and focus on their goals.  Defiance is sometimes viewed negatively, but used wisely it works hand in hand with discipline.  

As I reflect on today’s Scripture passage I am struck by Joseph’s resolve.  Potiphar’s wife had power over him, but he proudly opposed her authority, defied instant gratification, and submitted to the highest authority, God.  This kind of defiance marked Joseph as a man of integrity.  This character trait was exhibited by Joseph in other circumstances as well.  For example, despite having every right to be angry with his brothers who mistreated him, Joseph demonstrated the resolve to show them kindness.  A real nugget for me in the passage is Joseph’s motivation to be defiant.  He was determined not to sin against God. 

Conclusion:

To be disciplined we can benefit from the kind of defiance that says, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”   If we are tempted to think that Joseph’s defiance is beyond us we are reminded that ^“we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 – 9)

When discipline requires defiance, what encourages you most to stick to your resolve?

Contributor: Karen Christie

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23, New International Version)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Design

Reflection:

How are we designed for discipline?   For sound scientific reasons, a biological/psychological answer would certainly include references to the brain.  Without negating the contribution of science, as I think about discipline, I find references to the heart in the Old Testament interesting and informative.  For context it is important to note that Old Testament references to the heart involved much more than the physical organ.  For example, in the Jewish prayer called the Shema there is a reference to the heart (“Hear O Israel the LORD is our God the LORD is one, and as for you, you shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-5).  The word for heart used here is pronounced as levav or lev.  The important takeaway is that this references a broad concept of thoughts, desires, will and emotions. 

Often, when I think of discipline I associate it with fixing my mind on some behavior until it becomes second nature. However, the focus on the heart in our Scripture passages today expands my thinking.  If our heart (the core of our being) isn’t committed to God’s desires then our discipline is misaligned. We could become disciplined in thoughts or actions that are not God honoring.  Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes the importance of protecting our heart from which all our actions flow.  Psalm 51:10 captures David asking God to replace his sinful or misaligned heart. David knows only God can create and make his heart new. The verse goes on to say, “renew a steadfast spirit.”  In other words, a disciplined (control gained by enforcing obedience) spirit.  

Conclusion:

As believers, discipline demands a heart (inner being) that is intentionally tuned to God. This requires God creating a new heart in us.  Where discipline is concerned, we will sometimes fall short but knowing we serve the Creator who knows our design gives us confidence that we can get up and move forward. 

Are you encouraged by God’s knowledge of our design?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: Bridget Jeffries

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2 – 5, New International Version) 

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Danger

Reflection:

As we walk with God, there are many danger signs along the way.    Interestingly, our Scripture passage today tells us that dangers (“trials of many kind”) help to produce perseverance, which is certainly aligned with discipline.   (Note:  The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines perseverance as “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.”)

Daily, we experience trials and temptations.  These dangers can be minor or significant. Sometimes they result from encounters with people, and sometimes even from our thoughts.  In the same way that little children cling to their parents when they sense danger, I am encouraged by today’s Scripture passage to stay close to the Lord. Because of daily challenges, we must remain and abide in Him.  To remain faithful and persevere, we can employ spiritual disciplines such as starting our day with daily devotional readings, praying, and/or listening to some uplifting worship music.  Personally, I find considering trials to be “pure joy” challenging.  Thankfully, God provides wisdom generously and this helps to adjust my thinking. 

Conclusion:

God helps me to see that trials produce perseverance/discipline, even to the extent that I can consider trials “pure joy.”  For this to happen I must stay close to Him.

How do these verses encourage you to be more disciplined in the face of trials?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: James Devers

¹You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  ² I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  ³ Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. ⁴ I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. ⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. ⁶ On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  ⁷ Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  ⁸ I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.  (Psalm 63:1 -8, New International Version)

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Desire

Reflection:

King David’s disciplined approach to worship and meditation are very evident in Psalm 63:

• “My lips will glorify you.” (v. 3)
• “I will praise you as long as I live.” (v. 4)
• “In your name I will lift up my hands.” (v. 4)
• “On my bed I remember you.” (v. 6)
• “I think of you through the watches of the night. (v. 6)
• “I sing in the shadow of your wings.” (v. 7)

What is also evident in the Psalm is David’s strong desire for God:

• “Earnestly I seek you.” (v. 1)
• “I thirst for you.” (v. 1)
• “My whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land.” (v. 1)
• “Your love is better than life.” (v. 3)
• “You are my help.” (v. 7)
• “I cling to you.” (v. 8)

The combination of discipline and desire in the Psalm is not by chance in my view.  The American sprinter, Jesse Owens once said, “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”  In the quote, “dreams” are synonymous with desires.

Conclusion:

Spiritual discipline and a desire for God need to operate together in the life of believers.  If there is desire without discipline our desire is hollow and we rob ourselves of a growing relationship with God.  If there is discipline without desire, we are likely to be self-righteous, frustrated, or fatigued because we have disassociated our actions from a godly purpose.  Consider expressing your desire for God in writing, or try to recall a song or poem that expresses your desire.

Please feel free to share your thoughts.

Contributor: Norman Christie

Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord.  (Genesis 19:27, New International Version)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35, New International Version) 

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Daily Devotion

Reflection:

Discipline and schedules often go hand in hand.  Flexibility in scheduling certainly has its place where spiritual devotion is concerned.  We do not want to glorify schedules.  However, the Holy Spirit has given us the tools of routines and schedules.  As reflected in our Scripture passages today, there is value in designating certain times of the day for communication with God.  There are two popular quotes that emphasize the importance of schedules:  1) “What doesn’t get scheduled, doesn’t get done.”  2) “You can tell a person’s priorities by examining their spending accounts, their address book, and their calendar.”

Both the Old and New Testaments capture the value of schedules.  The Old Testament captures a prayer practice based on routine that is still employed in Judaism.  Prayers are performed three times daily: morning-Shacharit, afternoon- Mincha, and evening- Maariv.  In the Book of Psalms, there is a reference to David praying 3 times a day (Psalm 55:17). The same is true for Daniel (Daniel 6:10). Shacharit comes from shachar a Hebrew  word which means dawn.  And our passage from Genesis captures this.   

In the New Testament, Jesus woke early to find a quiet place to talk to His Father.  Abraham did the same centuries earlier.  Like Jesus, many believers today practice the discipline of early morning “devotions” because it sets the stage for the day and symbolizes putting God first.  Of course, we have the liberty to communicate with God whenever it is optimal to do so.   

Conclusion:

Schedules and flexibility are both tools that the Holy Spirit makes available for our spiritual devotions.  However, without the discipline of a routine/schedule often there is no time spent with God. Consider the practice of praying 3 times a day for the rest of Lent. You may find it helpful to meditate on specific verses during each session. For example, I have used the following Scripture passages in the past: morning (Numbers 6:24-26); afternoon (Psalm 105:4); and evening (Psalm 121:4).

Do you find a schedule for daily devotions helpful?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: Bridget Jeffries

²² Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. ²³ When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) ²⁴ So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”  ²⁵ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.  There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. ²⁶ He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” ²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. (Exodus 15:22-27, New International Version) 

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Dedication

Reflection:

Moses was not a perfect leader but with God’s help he was extremely effective.  One of his pronounced leadership qualities was his dedication to the people he led.  This dedication was exhibited in his commitment to discipline.  Consider for example, the discipline Moses displayed as an administrator and intercessor for a rebellious group of people.  Our Scripture passage today is just one example of this disciplined leadership in action.  In the face of rebellion, Moses cried out to God, trusted Him and followed His instructions.  He would use this approach on other occasions of rebellion (see Exodus 17 and Exodus 32, for example). 

Conclusion:

Moses shows us that a dedicated leader is a disciplined leader.  We all have our spheres of leadership.  It may be at home, at work, at church or elsewhere.  Does the depth of our dedication show up in the intensity of our discipline?  For example, are we persistent and patient in our prayers for those we lead, even when they are difficult to lead?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Contributor: Karen Christie

³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:3 – 6, New International Version)

¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out…²² Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:14 & 22, New International Version)

⁴By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead… ⁷By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.   (Hebrews 11:4 & 7, New International Version) 

Theme:  The Wisdom of Discipline

Title:  Discipline and Disobedience

Reflection:

In our Scripture passages today, we observe the lives of two popular characters, Cain and Noah.  In the accounts of their lives, we see contrasting approaches to discipline, disobedience and faith.  God admonished Cain to be disciplined.  We find this in Genesis 4:7 – “[sin] desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  Noah’s call to discipline can be inferred from the very specific and unprecedented tasks God gave him to build the ark (see Genesis 6).    

When I try to put myself in Cain’s and Noah’s shoes, I quickly come up with many reasons why disobedience appears appealing.  For example, Cain may have thought that the fruits from his profession as a farmer, should have been good enough for God.  Noah could have argued that he was being made to look crazy to his neighbors.  However, faith was a compelling reason to choose discipline. The motivation and outcomes of Cain’s and Noah’s choices are beautifully captured in Hebrews 11.  Noah was motivated by his faith in God and chose discipline.  Cain was not motivated by faith and chose to be disobedient.

Conclusion:

When faced with the choice between discipline and disobedience, factor the faithfulness of God into the equation and trust Him.    

What do you think?  Please feel free to share your thoughts.

Contributor: Norman Christie