In a recent conversation I had with my pastor, who is also my spiritual mentor, he mentioned that he had been seeing some very positive fruit in me over the summer.\u00a0 I asked him, “Anything specific?”\u00a0 to which he replied with one word – “Discipline.”<\/p>\n
I have never been a very disciplined person.\u00a0 I achieved my first degree black belt in Taekwondo in MIddle School, but then lost the discipline to keep going with it.\u00a0 I was smart enough to have possibly achieved a 4.0 GPA in HIgh School – but wasn’t disciplined enough to actually achieve it.\u00a0 In college – my lack of spiritual discipline led to some major personal struggles that eventually led to all sorts of problems.\u00a0 I believe I always fell short of so many things because of a lack of displine in two areas: my physical life, and my spiritual life.<\/p>\n
Maybe you’re like I was, and every time you went to the doctor you had to sheepishly answer “no” when the doctor asks if you’re exercising.\u00a0 Maybe you kept hearing everyone talk about physical fitness and thought to yourself, “Yeah, I know I should do that, but I just don’t have time.”\u00a0 As Paul is speaking to his young charge Timothy he says this:<\/p>\n
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-9<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I don’t think Paul was brushing off physical training in this passage – just comparing it as far less valuable than training to be godly, which we’ll get to in a minute.\u00a0 “I don’t have time” doesn’t work when you’re beginning to discipline yourself.\u00a0 Part of discipline is finding the time<\/strong><\/em> it takes to carry out what you’re trying to accomplish.\u00a0 I finally realized that everyone was right when they mentioned the importance of physical fitness – and after running and walking for just four days I am already feeling astoundingly better physically.<\/p>\n
Spiritual Discpline<\/h3>\n
As Paul says in the passage we read earlier – “godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”\u00a0 Godliness has an eternal reward.\u00a0 This discipline is even more important than physical fitness because our bodies, no matter how fit we are, will decay and turn to dust.\u00a0 Our souls, however, will go on for eternity.\u00a0 My spiritual discipline of a devotional life was an on-again, off-again affair.\u00a0 But now, after being disciplined to read and study my Bible almost <\/strong><\/em>every day – I feel astoundingly better spiritually and emotionally.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
My Challenge to You<\/h3>\n
Are you making time to discipline yourself, both physically and spiritually?\u00a0 If so, bravo!\u00a0 If not, I highly encourage you to do so.\u00a0 And don’t just do so with no goals in mind, or no way to track your progress.\u00a0 Find a training program for your physical fitness.\u00a0 I found one that even has a way to track your progress.\u00a0 Here’s a look at mine:<\/p>\n