Day 4 | Understanding the Role of Discipline in Spiritual Growth

Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:11

Reconnect movement and nutrition commitments to spiritual purpose, addressing fatigue around the physical practices.

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

I began to reflect on the understanding of discipline as it relates to spiritual growth, I immediately thought of the phrase, “Obedience is better than sacrifice”. This common quote is captured from the book of 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 22. In this scripture, the focus is on the physical sacrifice of an animal. Yet, we can gather from it that we must walk in obedience or we may run the risk of sacrificing ourselves in a way if we are not obedient. That sacrifice is usually above our price range.

Obedience is connected to discipline, because discipline requires pure obedience. Discipline is wrapped in those areas of life where we don’t necessarily want to do something but we know that it is par for the course and necessary. I can remember a time when I was intentionally fine tuning my discipline and I would be lying to you if I said it wasn’t hard. It required more out of me than I initially was willing to give. Yet, I had to humble myself because I knew in my mind that the reward was far greater than what the present moment of self gratification would have afforded me. 

Sometimes, we doubt the “reward” aspect of discipline. It’s hard to see the idea of a reward coming from discipline because it looks like it’s wrapped up in a series of denials. For example, if I want to lose weight, I must deny the desire to eat certain foods. These are foods which have been rewarding to my taste (lol). It’s hard to embrace the long term reward of losing weight because it feels more like a “have to” than a “want to”. Yet, we must believe in the Word of God in a way that is rewarding and reassuring in itself. In Hebrews 12, the reward is a harvest of righteousness and peace. Don’t skip over that part when reading the verse because we have to see the nutritional benefits of discipline. 

In the process of discipline, I noticed something. There is a gradual yet subtle change in mind and attitude the more we stay the course. Eventually those “have to’s” become “want to’s” as well. This is what you want to feel, most importantly as you apply discipline in your spiritual growth. It becomes one of those “hind sight is 20/20” type moments over time. In the beginning it may not look like what it is, but once we look back we realize that one thing that seems to have us bound, no longer causes mental or spiritual pressure. We can embrace discipline with ease. 

Today, I want to encourage you to do these things that will nurture increased discipline in your life:

1. Identify and speak the truth about areas you have not been disciplined in. 
2. Find scripture or use the ones listed to begin to pray over the discipline you desire. 
3. Ask God the hard questions in your prayer so that you can gain wisdom and understanding.
4. Don’t wait, start practicing and implementing the discipline you desire. 
5. If you need to fine tune some areas you’ve already worked on, get back at it. Don’t wait or try to convince yourself that you can’t. You can. 
6. Take Him (God) at His Word and thank Him for the harvest of righteousness and peace. 

By Tangela Morris (Pastor T with Ladies In Full Effect)