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Today I am introducing a five week challenge from Courtney at Women Living Well about discipline. I realize this is a few days late, but better late than never! Using my time wisely is something that I am trying to work on so this challenge couldn't have come at a better time! Courtney’s blog has been a great encouragement for me a Christian woman and wife so I am excited that she has created this challenge for women to learn to be better disciplined together.
Courtney has pinpointed five areas to focus on, they are: Mind, Body, Spirit, Work and Time.
This week’s challenge is focused on the body. I will elaborate more on that and how I am working on it in my next post but for now I just want to dive into what discipline means…
Let’s face it, when you think about being disciplined the first thing that comes to mind is probably getting in trouble as a child for eating a cookie before dinner when you were specifically told not to or something along those lines. Basically, you broke a rule set by your parents and they had to discipline you for it. However, discipline shouldn’t just take place as a child.
dis·ci·pline n.1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.3. Punishment intended to correct or train.
As you see in the first definition, discipline requires training especially in relation to moral or mental improvement. As Christians, we are called to listen to discipline and allow it to correct us for the better.
Proverbs 10:17
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
In the second, discipline involves self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
And in the third discipline involves punishment in order to correct a behavior. This may be the common form of discipline given to children who have disobeyed a parent but even as adults we can be disciplined by the Lord. It may not be pleasant, but we must learn from it and use it to shape us.
Hebrews 12:4-6
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Check back for my next post about discipline and the body. Do you want to follow along with the challenge to? Check out Courtney's post here to find out more. Also, I'd love to know if you read this and decide to do the challenge as well. It's great to know that we are in this together!
What are you working on to be better disciplined with?
Joyfully,
Ashley
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