Thoughts on Living A Disciplined Life

When I think of the word "discipline" my mind runs to the notion of, "I have to do this."  I think of drudgery, not delight.  I think of listlessness instead of life.  When my thoughts--when our thoughts--move this way, we begin to restrict God from the very thing he desires to do when live a disciplined life.  Everywhere we look, scripturally, we see that we get a new life when we commence a relationship with Christ.  To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, we become more of who we are when beginning to imitate Christ.

Yet, this paradigm of abiding in Christ, this practice of righteousness, does suggest a practical meaning.  We must become disciplined.  More importantly, if we going to not become castaways in the eyes of the world, we must immerse ourselves in a disciplined lifestyle just as Paul did. Ultimately, we have to live the disciplined life because Jesus did.

"Okay, I know I have to be disciplined," you say, "I know that I have to do certain things for consideration to be disciplined, right?"  Well, yes, Reader, you're right.  However let's not look at these things as a checklist or drudgery.  Let's not even look at the disciplines as, "this is how I get my wings."  Rather, together let us consider a different way of thinking about this practice of righteousness.  Let's look at the practice of righteousness as something that frees up space to invite God into all areas of our lives; Let's look at it as something that will lead us to greater intimacy with God; Let's look at this as a way to come together as believers because we learn our journey is not a solo act.