Discipleship
The word disciple comes from the same root as discipline.I used to think of discipline as a negative word, something that restricted my freedom and creativity. Over the years, I've learned that discipline properly understood, is a catalyst for freedom.
What exactly is disciipline? Here is my definition: Discipline is the courage to do the right thing when I don't feel like it. It is choosing the spirit over the flesh."
The best kind of discipline is internal, also called self-discipline. It is to this kind of discipline that parents aspire in training their children. Most of us have experienced external discipline. But as we grow and mature, we should no longer need external discipline. We should be led by internal discipline, or self-discipline.
W.K. Hope wrote: "Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't talk back." I like that definition. How often have we talked back to our conscience when it comes to our writing? We've said things like, "I'll have to wait till I'm inspired in order to write"; "When my children are grown, I'll write": "I have nothing to say"; "I never went to college, so how can I be a writer". And the back-talking goes on and on.
If I were to ask you, "Are you a disciple of Christ?", you'd quickly reply, "Why, yes, of course." But are you really a disciple of Christ when, as one called to write, you talk back to Holy Spirit's promptings?
All of us need to examine our hearts. If we find shortcomings in the area of discipline, let's repent and get back on track. Let's be the disciples Jesus expects us to be.
And that's my "musing that matters" for today. What's yours? :)
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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Comments
When we properly discipline our children, we show them love. If we don't care, we do nothing.
God disciplines those He loves. The Bible is clear on that. What a blessing!
We must be disciplined in our writing or we will write nothing ... or at least nothing worth reading. I don't want to sound legalistic, but if we're serious about our writing, we'll do what we need to do and that includes being disciplined AND discipled.
Mary Ann, I really needed this today. Exactly what I have been trying to work through with my own writing. I believe I have been called to write; however, my self-discipline and my ear to the Holy Spirit seems to have become deaf.:-) Thank you for reminding me. May you continue in your encouraging ways. Clella
I was reading this aloud to Mom, and when I got to the antepenultimate paragraph, she said, "Ouch!"
:-)
Please pray for her, as she had STARTED a book, and the enemy jumped in with both feet, atttacking her hands and arms with pain. Pray for her deliverance, all of you, please! Thanks!
I have been working on my music, which is the direction in which He's led me lately, in addition to catching up on the Christian chick lit novel (inserting a day that was missing). I also have to discipline myself about keeping focused on things that matter. When I was growing up, Mom always told me I needed to learn to discipline myself so I could accomplish things. Isn't it amazing how often mothers are right?
;-)
Thank you for another wonderful musing, MaryAnn! Now, I'd better discipline myself to go straighten the house before I settle down to the writing and the music (my own bête noire).
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Mom...is that your subtle way of telling me to write my paper? :-D
Seriously, though...I used to tell this to the parents of my students as an encouragement. If we love our children, we will discipline them because in reality, we are discipling them and teaching them to follow Jesus. Good stuff, mamma!