31 Days of Discipline- {Day 2}

Before I dive into spiritual disciplines, I wanted to look a little into what I believe is at the very heart of discipline, desire.  You see, I say that I am completely lacking discipline in my life, but I am not actually sure that is entirely true, and here's why....


There are certain t.v. shows that I absolutely love.  The list is long, so I won't go through each, but just know that I am sure to set aside the necessary time needed to watch my favorite tv shows each week. In the last 4 seasons of American Idol, I haven't missed one episode, I DVR each show, and each show gets watched.

That's discipline.

I love a clean house.  In fact it is hard for me to relax if I don't feel like the house is clean.  Each week I get my girls to help me,  and we clean the entire house top to bottom.  Throughout the week, I clean up each evening, to make sure that we don't wake up to too much clutter, or too many crumbs on the floor.

That's discipline.

It is really important to me that I look a certain way each day.  I HATE blow drying my hair, but I do it every day. I stand in the bathroom (I hate bathrooms. It's a thing . It's weird. I know!) with my head turned upside down, then flip it up smoothing out every single section of hair, then I go back over every piece of hair with a straightener, to make sure there are no out of place pieces!

That is discipline.

Unfortunately, I have become disciplined in some things that are of little value, while I am lacking discipline in many things that are of great value. The difference, I believe,  lies in what my truest desires are.

You see...I really desire some veg time. You know, some time to get lost in someone else's world, and take a break from mine for a minute.  That is why I make time for t.v.  

I also really desire my own comfort.  In order for me to feel comfortable, I need to have a house that is in some sort of order, with a certain level of cleanliness. If my house is a mess...I can't get comfortable. That is why I clean.

I desire others to think a certain way about how I look.  So, in order to maintain that image, I need to fix my hair...'cause my hair dried naturally looks ridiculous!  So, I dry my hair every day.  

My desires drive my efforts. 

If my deepest desire is to know the God of the Universe in a more intimate way, than I will pursue Him, no matter what the cost. I will choose prayer, scripture reading, meditation and scripture memory, over extra sleep time, or that week's episode of House.

If I truly desire to keep my body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, healthy and thriving, then I will make daily choices to put good things in.  I will take seriously the opportunity to strengthen this temple and exercise, even when I don't feel like it.

If I truly desire to give to others, and honor God with our money, than I will say no to buying whatever I want, when I want it.  I will give even if it means going without, and I will live within the boundaries of a budget, even if it means not indulging all of my whims.

Before we begin to dive into discipline as it pertains to specific areas of our lives, we need to really address the desires of our hearts.  And, if there is one thing I know, it is that I need God to work in and through this process.  So, I am going to pray!

Father, I am so in need of you to work in me. My desires are all out of whack, and I need You to grow within me a driving desire to know You to care for Your temple, and to manage your resources well.  Lord, I know that I can do NOTHING in my own strength, so I pray that you would help me to rest in your Son, and His strength. I pray that when I fail to exercise discipline in my life that You would by your grace, lead me back to that path.  I pray for those that are reading too. Lord You know where they are and what they need...I pray that You would work in their hearts through this series, and that You would be glorified in the lives of Your saints!