It has been an amazing journey to dig into God’s Word to look at why we find ourselves in the middle of a project, goal or commitment and we grow weary. We get tired, frustrated, distracted and disappointed, lose our focus, and why does that happen. We have looked at our focus, frustration, disappointment and today I want us to zone in on our discipline.
11 Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. 1 Corinthians 8:11
I wanted to start by looking at the foundation verse again, Paul says that we are to finish what we start with the same eagerness and desire. How much does discipline and self control play into our commitments, goals, and projects? Turns out, God’s Word is full of wisdom on this topic.
Discipline is the ability to maintain self control. Worldly philosophies do not teach a person how to have self control. We often get into this idea that if we simply say no, that is the end of the story. However, self control is a fruit of the spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
Galatians 5:22-23
So if you try to work the world’s idea of self control into your life, it will fail you. If you try to muster your own self control, it will fail. Self control only comes by the Spirit of God. You can use your own will, but eventually it will fail. There are many factors that play into why we lose our self control: stress, tiredness, hunger in our spirit, mind or body. Other reason may be we just have never learned to effectively control our impulses or emotions.
No matter the cause, a loss of self control can have serious consequences. People who struggle are often filled with hopelessness and despair. It leads to harmful behaviors like abuse, violence, and addiction. It damages personal relationships and can hinder our career advancements. It can cause our commitments, goals, and projects to fail miserably.
Do not stay in despair! There is help for those who want to gain control over their lives. It is possible to learn to manage impulses and emotions to make better choices. Our help comes from our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit.
Self control comes by trusting and depending upon God.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Let the Holy Spirit lead you!
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
Walk in love!
13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:13-14
When we practice self control, we are being obedient to God’s Word. This pleases Him and brings great blessing to our lives!
28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Luke 11:28
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25
If we want to have self control, we have to begin by depending on God. Trust 100%! No wishy washy half trust. You have to trust in Him with all you have and are. Then allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to walk in love. Self Control is a gift from God.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.
2 Timothy 1:7
When we trust God, we fear nothing. God provides, protects, and is always with us. It is through Him that all our deepest needs are met and we do not have to fear! God gives us the ability and power to love and through His love make sound decisions.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works. Titus 2:11-14
Not only is our fear banished, but God fills us with the wisdom, discipline, and self control to deny our flesh, live rightly, and to be cleansed of worldly philosophies. How great is our God?
How then do we practice self control?
Daily Commitment to Trust
God’s Word in Proverbs (3:5-6) says to trust in Him. This means daily, making the commitment to trust in Him. To seek Him in all we have planned and do. Offer our commitments, goals, and plans to Him, that He work through us to meet those commitments, goals, and plans.
Conform to His Wisdom
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Daily we need to seek to be in the presence of the Lord. Lay our hearts and minds down in the fires of His altar and allow the Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. Ask our Heavenly Father for discernment. Ask for his strength and guidance. We need to lay down our own ideas and ways of how we think we need to accomplish the work set before us and give it to Him to allow Him to work His way.
Focused Discipline, Right Reasons
25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. 26 So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Paul tells us we are running a race (2 Timothy 4:7). We are athletes in the race of life. Just as athletes have to make sure they eat right, exercise, and rest, we also must be filling our spirit with the right food, exercising our faith, and finding rest in our Heavenly Father. Athletes are focused on winning a trophy, but what is our focus? Are you focused on the Kingdom of God or is your focus on gaining fleshly trophies? If your focus is to fulfill the emptiness you have, your race will never finish. Only through trusting God can you sincerely run with discipline, self control, and love.
Love is Key to self control
13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13-16
We have to exercise the love that God fills us with. Only God’s pure love he pours into our hearts will keep us from “devouring each other.” If we want to exercise self control, we need to allow God’s love to fill is up. His love is perfect, casts out fear, and fills our hearts with the desire to love others.
The right Supplements
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 1 Peter 1:5-7
God is so good! He tells us exactly what we need to gain self control. DO you see what results from self control?
Steadfastness
12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Let us be real with each other. Self control is not easy because we have to give up our control and trust. For us that is not easy! God knows this. He knows your life story, but he promises that life, freedom, and liberty comes to those who trust in Him through good times and hard times. It is easy to want to give up and lean back on ourselves. That was a comfort to us at one point. But, God’s Word says, do not give up! Keep trusting!
I like to think of a garage as an example of this self control topic. You walk out there and need a hammer. Where the hammer is, are fishing poles. You put the fishing poles away, all to find the cordless drill is not put away, and the battery is dead. When you finally find the charger, you notice you had not swept the saw dust up from the last project. Everything is just disorganized and out of place. You feel anxiety and frustration. Our lives are like this. We get so busy we start just throwing things were they should not go and before too long we find ourselves in a mess.
I believe this is a calling from our Father. He is giving us opportunity to reorganize our hearts. To reset priorities. To remember that in Him all things are in control and through Him all things will come about according to His will. This is an opportunity that He invites us to let Him come in and do some spring cleaning. Transform us, renew us, and fill us up with His strength, wisdom, guidance, and endurance to reach the goal. Complete and fulfill the commitment. FInish the project.
Today is a great day to sit and think about where you are at in the middle of life. Have you made commitments you have dropped out from? Did you set a goal and walk away? Have you started a project that has yet to be finished?
Our Heavenly Father says, come to me when you are weak and weary and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-29). Perhaps, God is calling you today to come to Him and let Him reorganize that closet, garage, or junk yard you have going on in your spirit. Seek Him to reset your focus. Seek Him to reignite that vision, goal, or commitment you made. Seek Him to remind you where to came from and why you started or made it to begin with. Seek Him for strength and endurance. Seek Him to ignite your fire and passion.
It Starts Small 
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