Spiritual Discipline Thought

Discipline is not the same as punishment.  This begins to explain why I become discouraged about pursuing spiritual disciplines* in my life… I look at it as punishment.  The young lover doesn’t stop looking at other women because his fiancé has told him to do so (although she has the right to ask him to do so!) He stops looking at other women because it frees up his mind and heart.  He can now give all of of his mind and heart to his fiancé.  God has not redeemed us in order for us to be shackled to disciplines.  Rather we pursue disciplines in order for us to experience more freely the great relationship we now have with the Father.

Training is not the same as trying.  Trying puts the emphasis on me.  I cannot try to be a better follower of God.  When my son works with his QB coach he’s not trying to become a better QB, per se.  He’s training his mind, his muscle memory and his body to do certain things that during the course of a game will allow a QB mentality and ethic to flow naturally out of him.  When I’m in training with God, I’m not trying to become a better Christian.  I’m training my mind, my heart, my life so that in the “moment” of decision or crisis or importance the Spirit of God has freedom to well up inside, like a river, and flow out.  John 7:38

*While almost anything can qualify, historically the following spiritual disciplines are the most often talked about… fasting, quietness, solitude, submission, confession, service, meditation, simplicity, study, giving, journaling and small groups

A Way Out

Sure I am of this; that you only have to endure to conquer. Churchill

I Cor 10:13 assures us that "He will provide a way out." I think our expectations and perspectives are fascinating to study. When we fail to meet our expectations then adversity sets in. For some this adversity is lethal. Psychologists have coined the phrase, “learned helplessness” to explain the feeling of helplessness one feels after lots of failures. If you're someone who just can't seem to measure up, or can't catch a 'break' or keeps falling to temptation then sooner or later you'll probably deal with this learned helplessness idea. That's where your spiritual enemy wants you to be... hopeless.

But there is hope.
And there are options.
And He can provide a way out.

And then you say, "I've already tried. He hasn't come through." Well, then try again. Look, if you’ve only got one bullet then I’d be reluctant to fire it as well. But you don’t. You have lots of them. You just have to keep firing.

I love what Henry Cloud says, "What if your hope is not in one particular option but in the belief that if you keep looking for options one will appear?"