It is time to not only turn the corner on a new year, but also a new decade. That means a new word for the year. This devotion looks at the topic of future devotions — self-discipline.
Nuggets
- It is only through God’s love are we made perfect.
- God has given us the opportunity to find that for which we’ve been searching.
- Self-control might be the goal, but self-discipline is the operational plan.
Well, another year is behind us. Do you wish it could last longer? Or are you glad it’s gone?
We have had to put up with a lot of temptations and disappointments along with the joy and the happiness. Even when it seems like it is all trials, we can find something for which we can be thankful.
Let's Put It into Context
“Brethern, I do not regard myself as having laid of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3: 13-14 NASB)
Some of the hassles are to be expected. After all, we are born into this world in a natural body. We are bound to have disappointments, to make mistakes, and to basically screw things up.
It is only through God’s love are we made perfect. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God” (Eph. 2: 8 NASB). It is through Him we are delivered from our enemies and given every spiritual blessing.
Yet, this is only the beginning. All our sins are forgiven. All our mistakes have been forgotten. The slate is wiped clean. We get a chance to start over, a change to begin anew.
Yes, this is only the beginning. Our sins have been forgiven, but we have some obligations toward God.
- We are to seek the things of the Sprit (Rom. 8: 5).
- We must learn wisdom and mature (1 Cor. 2: 6).
- We must seek the true bread given to us by our Father (John 6: 32).
The most important thing is this: we must seek Him with a sincere heart (Heb. 10: 22).
God has given us the opportunity to find that for which we’ve been searching. He allows us to turn over a new leaf. He says, “You want things to change? Here is your chance. I will help you. All you have to do is ask.”
One way that I have done this starting this year is to have a word for the year. God impressed on my heart an area on which I needed to work.
Old Word: Intentional
“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” (Jas. 1: 25 CSB)
My word for the year was intentional. There was so many things I had to be intentional about this past year.
I had to be intentional about how I set up my business. I really had to be intentional as to how I set up my website. There are some things I would like to learn how to change, but I wanted it to be about right the first time.
I had to plan out how I was doing these devotions. Yes, they have changed a little over the year, but for the most part, I settled pretty early on how I would approach them.
Most important, I had to be more intentional with my relationship with God. I had to intentionally look into His Word and see what He was telling me.
Just the other day, my Facebook memory popped up with this quote. I don’t remember from where I got the quote.
“Do not be dismayed by the brokenness in the world.
All things break.
And all things can be mended.
Not with time as they say, but with intention.
So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
The broken world waits in darkness
for the light that is you.”
L. R. Knost
The light is me reflecting Jesus.
I loved the line “The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” I am very humbled by it. It is my hope and prayer that I have been able to spread His light into the darkness of your broken world.
New Word: Self-Discipline
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (Jas. 1: 14 NLT)
My word for 2020 is self-discipline. I went back and forth whether I wanted that or self-control.
We know self-control is a fruit (Gal. 5: 22-23). Shouldn’t that be for what we are to strive? (Should probably do a devotion on that, shouldn’t I?)
But, to me, self-control is the end product. Self-control is the ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, or behavior in the face of temptations.
To me, self-discipline brings the self-control. Self-discipline is defined as “correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.”
If I just said I was going to work on self-control, I would have to ask how would I do that? To me, that is more of a God thing than a me thing.
But I want the improvement that goes along with self-discipline. I want to be better in the ways God wants me to be better.
Self-control might be the goal, but self-discipline is the operational plan. But what should I plan?
New Plan
Now, remember that I started off writing these devotionals because God was talking to me. God still talks to me through these devotions. Never doubt that I especially preach to myself when I write devotionals based on my word of the year (as well as the others). God has asked that I share them with you so that they may talk with you, also.
When I was doing the When We Give Up on God series, I came across a sermon by Vincent entitled The Lesson of Ripeness. It talks about the disciple needed to grow in our relationship with God.
Yes, it talks about growing to be a teacher. However, it also talks about growing to where we should have a mature faith. Everyone needs that.
Now, when I heard self-discipline, I expected God to say, “You need to work on this sin, that sin, and the other sin.”
God used Vincent’s sermon to tell me, “You need to work on this aspect, that aspect, and the other aspect to mature your faith.”
So, I will be working on (and yes, you will be hearing about) the following:
- If we are expected to be at a certain knowledge level “by a reason of time” as Vincent said, where is that level?
- a matured faith through these three aspects
- his own assurance of Christian truth.
- develop faith in the sense of spiritual discernment
- clearer perception of the things of the unseen world
- faith in the sense of restfulness.
- composure, tranquility, balance.
- a matured faith through these three aspects
- How can prayer be a subject of discipline?
- How do we promote habitual consistency of life, obedience, and docility?
- How do we broaden our charity?
No, I am not sure right now where all of this is going to head. It will probably be interspersed between other things.
I am looking forward to the new year. I don’t do resolutions. I did my three-year strategic plan when I did my retreat right after my spiritual tornado.
I am looking to seek God and grow closer to Him in 2020. What about you?
Dear Heavenly Father. We come again to a new beginning. Lord, some things this past year haven’t turned out the way we had hoped they would. We’ve had so many missed opportunities, so many disappointments, so many temptations, we tend to forget the good things that happened this year. Bring them to our minds so we may thank You for them. Lord, we stand on the brink of new challenges. Help us to meet this year cheerfully and prayerfully. Lord, we dedicate this year to You to grow closer to You and to share Your wonderful love with others. Amen.
What do you think?
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