Surrendering to Self-Discipline
by Laura Stuart
You have, no doubt, heard the expression “grow old gracefully?” In my younger days it was something that I was determined to do. “It’ll be easy,” I said, “I’ll be different from those complainers!” Such easily spoken, foolish words were never uttered!
However, now that growing older has most definitely arrived let me tell you (if you have not already discovered for yourself) - it’s a hard business. These aging bodies require more and more attention, and a frequent prayer these days is that my own self-care would not equal self-focus.
Rather, what I continue to have in the forefront of my mind is that the purpose behind all this extra attention my body requires, and in which I must gracefully cooperate, is to help keep it fit for His kingdom work. It is a work in progress.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul, in referring to his ministry to them wrote, “…I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor. 9:26-27 NIV). Paul disciplined his own body so that he could rigorously serve the Lord and battle sin.
My advice as a woman of certain years and experiences is this:
get plenty of sleep,
eat healthy,
take your vitamins, and
exercise.
Simple, yet at the same time it requires that we make our body our slave. We do not serve it. On the contrary, it serves us and the Lord! It is a gift that we must care for and steward well.
The other half of the message is this: practice spiritual disciplines so that your spiritual growth and maturity is pleasing to the Lord. As we must be intentional to care for our physical body, we must also be intentional to participate in this life-long practice of deepening our relationship with God, in knowing His Word, and in learning to listen to Him. The writer of Hebrews wasted no ink in telling his audience how they still needed milk (Heb. 5:12). He went on to write, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14). Training requires discipline! My younger self rebelled against that word. It was confining, distasteful, and anything I could do opposite, well, I would. God has worked that out of me in mighty, sometimes painful, ways, praise His holy name!
As a verb, discipline means “to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control, to bring under control, to impose order upon” (Merriam-Webster). Spiritual disciplines are practices or habits that have stood the test of time over centuries and that we find modeled in Scripture by Jesus and the apostles. There are individual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, study, and contemplation; corporate disciplines such as worship, fellowship, and confession; and outward disciplines such as service, simplicity, and submission. Celebration is a discipline! Yes, a discipline! What a more wonderful, joyous way to grow in spiritual maturity than to celebrate the goodness of the Lord with fellow companions in Christ.
Allow me to challenge you this month to select one or two disciplines and perhaps practice it in a way that might be different from your “norm.”
Call your friends and go on a prayer walk.
Refrain from social media for a day (or a week, or a month!).
Begin reading through the Bible, two chapters each day.
Memorize Scripture (yes, I know you can do it).
Gathering weekly to worship is non-negotiable, but have you worshiped the Lord through the observance of His created world? Go on a walk through the woods, sing Him a song, paint something on a canvas that encourages you to praise Him. Has He done something significant recently for you? Build an ebenezer, a stone of remembrance (1 Samuel 7:12), that will cause you to remember and praise God for His goodness.
Invite folks over for a meal (do not worry about the state of your home – their company is what is important).
Be open about your failings among trusted friends. Their comfort and prayers for you are strengthening.
Simplify your calendar. Busyness is not next to godliness.
You get the idea. Some good books to read on the subject are:
Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster, and
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun.
Discipline yourselves, sisters, physically and spiritually. Test me in this and see if you do not notice a difference!
Grace and peace –
Laura
