Discipline of a Christian
As Christians we are to pray and read the Bible daily. Ideally we are to have a quiet time with God daily, hear Him daily. We are to praise and worship Him daily at home. We are to have a daily quiet time at home. We are to go to church and worship God as a community. We are to have Holy Communion as often as possible. We need to forgive ourselves and others. We need to be obedient to what the Lord directs us to. We need to be willing to sacrifice as well as share and be charitable. We need to love ourselves and others. And many more.
All these may not be our default nature, but we can choose to discipline ourselves in all these. Most importantly we need to love God above all and be fully confident about His great love towards us. We have this verse from Proverbs 3:5-6 which says this. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. All these are elements of a disciplined Chritian life. With discipline complemented by faith we can develop a consistent lifestyle which pleases our Lord and saviour.
Discipline followed in the world
We are groomed into a disciplined life from infancy. As infants, many of us started drinking milk at intervals, following sleep schedules. At school, we had daily school timings, and Kate was disciplined. We were groomed with uniforms, following classroom norms of being attentive and not talkative during lessons, and so on. Same with college. Later on in life, we follow these disciplined lives at the workplace or farms or businesses for success.
Disciplined life continues in marriage, having one spouse, encouraging and nurturing each other and the close network of extended family. Regular interactions are built through family gatherings, celebrations of marriages, birthdays and anniversaries and frequent gatherings. Only as we value and spend time in nourishing these ties, our bonding with our near and dear ones grow. Only with discipline, determination, and desire are we able to put in time and effort for these.
I recall nearly 2 & half decades ago, when I launched a business along with my wife, while we had an office space nearly two-hour drive away from home, we decided on a home office. At sharp 8 am, we were in our study room at home. We had our kids and occasionally family members at home. Discipline required that they were not permitted to enter the ‘office room’ between 8am to 5pm. My wife and I would change into office wear before 7:30 am. We prayed together in our office room before we set to work daily. We even wore shoes although we were not stepping out of the ‘office’ most of the working days during the week.
Self-discipline for a Christian
We have this beautiful verse about self-discipline given in 2 Timothy 1:7 in the NLT version: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline. ( 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
The NKJV version also uses “sound mind” which also points to “self-discipline”. : For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. ( 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)
Coming back to my life story, as we were disciplined, we were on the right track to expect discipline from the two office staff we had at our office two hours away. Another aspect of self-discipline was re. The occasional client meetings we had to attend. Initially, due to traffic conditions, we used to be late for a few meetings. However, in a few months, we were able to discipline ourselves to leave early so that traffic conditions stopped being an excuse for us.
So we improved in the discipline we keep and the discipline we expect. All these lead to steady growth. 24 years later we are now 125+ team members across team members from Egypt, New Zealand, the Philippines, and 25 plus cities or towns throughout India. All this growth and sustenance can be attributed to God’s faithfulness.
As we have disciplined, we have this beautiful verse.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty. Proverbs 21:5a NKJV. Diligence means steady, earnest, careful… Also, all these point to discipline. Yes, over the years we have seen this word manifest. We still have a long way to go. More changes!
What does being disciplined mean?
Being disciplined means we keep doing certain things, we abstain from doing other things. Thus, through discipline,, we have a regular routine. We become what we repeatedly do. So it’s important to be disciplined and keep good routines & habits. Discipline keeps us on a stable pathway. Habits & routines are like hedges, barriers across pathways or highways that keep us safe, and protect us from slipping into danger!
What are some of the Daily Disciplines of a Christian?
Here are a few of the disciplines of a Christians. It’s not meant to be exhaustive, but merely a partial and indicative list of a few. In some instances the Biblical basis of these are indicated with a few verses mentioned.
Daily sleep, ( Remember that in Psalm 23 verses 1 & 2, we know that sleep is mentioned in the 2nd verse where the psalmist mentions that the Lord makes us lie down in green pastures.).
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalm 23:1,2)
We also have the verse that reminds us sleep is given by the Lord.
Psalm 127:2b mentions that the Lord gives His beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:2b NKJV)
We have a verse citing Jesus’ sleep. Matthew 8:23-27 KJV And when he was entering a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.)
Other disciplines include :
daily Bible reading,
daily prayer,
daily having two or three meals,
eating good food and avoiding junk food,
daily bathing,
daily meditating on the Word of God,
daily worship time,
daily and weekly exercise,
daily introspection,
daily and routine gratefulness….
Let me reiterate there are many other Christian daily disciplines which are intentionally left out for each one of us to figure out.
Here are a few Christian weekly and periodic routines.
weekly going to church,
weekends of rest away from work,
yearly jubilee celebrations,
annual retreats or faith & career conferences,
birthday celebrations,
yearly celebrations of Christmas, Easter, Maundy Thursday,
annual medical examinations,
annual vacations and all these are regular routines when followed diligently ensure spiritual and physical health.
In the list above, in addition to spiritual discipline routines, a few random lifestyles and disciplines that go hand in hand are mentioned. Good to remember that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Hence, it’s important to take care of the body. Stewardship of the body is expected of a Christian. Here are a few verses which point to this.
Discipling & stewardship of our body
This verse from 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV reminds us that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, to keep away from sexual sin and sexual immorality – thus abstaining from sex outside marriage, pornography etc.
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV )
A Christian is not free to do what he or she wants with his or her body. We should remind ourselves that as a Christian we are the temple of God and the Holy Spirit lives in us. We are to be careful not to bring any kind of impurity from any kind of sexual sin and sexual immorality. We belong to Jesus. Our old self, old man, old person who was sinful is dead. Jesus Chris paid the wages of our sin when he died on the cross as a blemishless lamb for our sins and inequity. Whereas we are now we are resurrected with Jesus Christ as a new creation.
We are not a slave of Satan or Evil spirit to let sin reign in our body. With the freedom we have received from Jesus Christ who was crucified we do not misuse the great freedom for which Jesus Christ paid for our sins through the cross lightly. We value it and decide not to slip into sinfulness again. We flee from every trap of the enemy.
Even if we slip, we rise up with greater determination remembering that the work of the cross is the finished and perfect sacrifice. Hence with greater determination, we live as a new creation knowing that we belong to Jesus Christ.
As we make our decisions, choices, and intentions clear by fleeing from such situations and circumstances, we retain our freedom. Remember to submit to God and resist the Devil. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ( James 4:7 NKJV)
God does not want anyone to destroy what belongs to Him. This great love, and possessiveness of God towards each one of us is amply clear in this verse.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 6:16-17 NKJV )
We are to remain clean, free from every filthiness, thus striving for holiness in the fear of the Lord. Here is 2 Corinthians 7:1 passage on this.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. ( 2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV)
Some among us may blame God on the temptations face by us. This is not true. God does not tempt us. One is only tempted by our own desires which entices us. James 1:13-15 The passage given below clearly shows us the progression from desire to sin and ultimately to death.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15 NKJV)
Additional discipline routines for spiritual growth
Find below a few daily disciplines required from a Christian. We start with the discipline of reading the Bible daily. Then we will cover the discipline of prayer. Thereafter we will cover the post of attending church service. And so on.
Discipline of reading the Bible daily
Reading the Bible daily is a spiritual discipline to be practised. Remember that the Bible is not like any other book.
The verses in the Bible are Spirit Filled. There is great power in them. The Word of God is a living word. All the supernatural works of Jesus Christ of signs, wonders and healings the verses in the Bible can bring in situations and circumstances we live and we face.
Here is a powerful verse about the Bible, from the Bible. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the main focus of the Bible. The old testament has the prophecies about the coming of Jesus Christ. The new testament is about the life of Jesus and the last chapter of the new testament is about the coming of Jesus Christ.
This verse clearly reminds us about the power of the Word of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NKJV) After reading the verse we should very well know that by reading the Bible prayerfully, we can have an encounter with Lord Jesus.
How do we read the Bible prayerfully?
As we encounter Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit & Father God in the Bible, it’s important that we start reading by posturing our minds with excitement and expectation of hearing from God. We pray that our counselor, Holy Spirit, would highlight specific verses meant for us for the day. We pray and ask for revelation. God is so very faithful, often we receive guidance and encouragement in direct and in some days indirect ways. Whatever be the case, we choose to Trust in God without leaning on our understanding.
We know that the Bible verses train us, discipline us, correct us, lead us into truth. Those who do not refresh themselves in daily reading the Bible, can easily slide into the unhealthy and even evil paths of anxiety, despair, sorrow, hopelessness, being blind, angry, suicidal,depression, bitterness, offense etc. A person reading the Bible daily, thinking (i.e. meditating) on what is read increases our level of hope, joy, peace & expectation.
Here is verse on the multiple perspectives on scripture verses from the Bible.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)
Here we read about how the Lord disciplines us to be like a father who corrects a son in whom he delights. The verse following also shows that disciplining and chastening from God is only towards those He loves. We can have these disciplining experiences as we read the Bible and realize that we need to change the way we live and do things.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12 NKJV)
We are also reminded and inspired by what we read in the Bible. For instance we are inspired and encouraged reading Paul speaks about self disciplining his body so that he wins the race! But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV)
Paul clearly reminds that in the short term, the process of disciplining seems painful, with time it yields fruit of righteousness – for those trained by these discipling processes. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. ( Hebrews 12:11 NKJV) All these and many other learnings come from prayerfully reading the Word with a desire to change, a desire to keep changing, a desire to be self-disciplined.
As we read the Word of God, we are reminded about how Jesus models life of prayer. Here we read about the habit of Jesus retiring to deserted places and praying. He often withdrew from among the people who surrounded him and went to pray.
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16 NKJV) Verses like these remind us to be inspired into prayer as well as regularly practise a daily discipline of reading the Bible.
God Bless you richly.
