I’m in the middle of training for another mini-marathon. Each year that I do this, it seems God has something different for me to learn or ponder. This year it seems to be the issue of discipline.
Yes, I am a highly disciplined person. But this year God’s using my training to reinforce that I am disciplined in the things I want to be disciplined in. Because I write late at night, I’m not a morning person anymore. Yet because of my crazy schedule right now, the only time for me to get in my
runs most days is if I get up half an hour to an hour earlier than I have been. I’m doing it. I don’t like it, but I’m doing it.
As I do, I feel this whisper in my soul challenging me to do the same thing to spend time with God. I don’t like running, yet I’m doing what I need to so I don’t die that first Saturday morning in May when I’m running. How much more important is it to make the time to spend time in the Bible and in God’s presence. I find pockets and snatches of time, but I’m not great about having one designated time every day.
Because of a new class I’m teaching at Purdue, I’m reading a 500 page textbook in eight weeks for the purpose of teaching the content. That’s not always enjoyable, but I’m doing it. Why can’t I do the same with the Bible?
Anyone else struggle with this? I really hope I’m not alone, but I love how God in his grace has shown me that I do have the discipline…when I chose to exercise it.
Comments 2
This post was perfectly timed for me. I’ve been thinking a lot about the issue of discipline–about why it is that I can be very disciplined about certain things (say, attending to clients’ needs at my day job), but not always so much about other things that matter very much to me, like writing or working out.
You’ve given me some things to think about today. Thanks for sharing this.
Isn’t it funny how we can be so disciplined and yet not. Asking God for the grace to work on this.