Sometimes we tend to think of ourselves as being spiritual in one part and physical/emotional in another. Actually we are this one big, complex whole. What affects us physically will affect us mentally and spiritually and vice versa. It is important to keep a balance in our lives and see about our overall health. Prayer and Bible study are necessary to spiritual health. Eating correctly and exercise are necessary to physical health. Both of these things affect our emotional health. We must not put all of our emphasis on one area and neglect the rest. The key is discipline, a word we don't often like to think about.
Discipline isn't something that comes naturally to most of us. We usually think of discipline as punishment when in isn't. Discipline is having structure in our lives. When we were children we were told to go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time. As adults we go to bed and get up because have to be at work. Some may be able to get up without an alarm but most do not. The important thing is, we have learned to get up and get dressed without some one telling us that we must. This is called discipline.
As important as discipline is in our daily lives, it is even more important in our spiritual lives. Have you ever noticed that as soon as you begin to pray the phone rings? Or you think of a million things that need to be done. You get the picture. The reason is that prayer requires disciplining the natural mind to deny itself so that the spirit can commune with God for a little while. Just like training ourselves to get up in the morning, we can train ourselves to pray. It may not be easy at first but the results are well worth the effort.
Most often when we begin to diet or exercise we do it only for a little while and then go back to our old habits. The same is true of prayer. We get up earlier and make ourselves pray but it only lasts for a short time. Then we are sleeping to the last minute again. (At least that's been my cycle.) But discipline is good for us and we need it. They say that actions become habits and habits form our destinies. If this is true, then I am determined to create good habits. After all, they just might make the difference of a lifetime.
Committed to Jesus,
Sullivan Jones
Discipline isn't something that comes naturally to most of us. We usually think of discipline as punishment when in isn't. Discipline is having structure in our lives. When we were children we were told to go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time. As adults we go to bed and get up because have to be at work. Some may be able to get up without an alarm but most do not. The important thing is, we have learned to get up and get dressed without some one telling us that we must. This is called discipline.
As important as discipline is in our daily lives, it is even more important in our spiritual lives. Have you ever noticed that as soon as you begin to pray the phone rings? Or you think of a million things that need to be done. You get the picture. The reason is that prayer requires disciplining the natural mind to deny itself so that the spirit can commune with God for a little while. Just like training ourselves to get up in the morning, we can train ourselves to pray. It may not be easy at first but the results are well worth the effort.
Most often when we begin to diet or exercise we do it only for a little while and then go back to our old habits. The same is true of prayer. We get up earlier and make ourselves pray but it only lasts for a short time. Then we are sleeping to the last minute again. (At least that's been my cycle.) But discipline is good for us and we need it. They say that actions become habits and habits form our destinies. If this is true, then I am determined to create good habits. After all, they just might make the difference of a lifetime.
Committed to Jesus,
Sullivan Jones