Grace-base Discipline

I wanted to follow up on my Sunday sermon on discipline over regret.  

Discipline is often a touchy subject. I guess, it’s because as adults living in Cabo, we want to avoid having to face discipline in our lives, either from a boss, friend, spouse, or God.

As we continue to grow in faith, the Lord is going to lead us to practice grace-based self-discipline, which is a proactive measure in our lives to limit being disciplined from outside sources. 

Grace based self-discipline causes us to make the right choices in our lives that lead to positive results.

The process of exercising grace-based self-discipline is the key for ensuring that we continue down our path of sanctification.

Yet, as I shared on Sunday, the desire to self-discipline is manifested by God’s grace working in us which I’m calling grace-based self-discipline. 

As it’s grace-based self-discipline what allows us to choose what we want MOST over what we want NOW. Without God’s grace we’re led more often to choose now over most. 

The Bible says in Luke 16:10

"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.” 

Being faithful requires us to participate in our own self-discipline. God knows that if you aren’t willing to partner with in taking care of yourself (not just material things, but also your body, your family, your job) that you might not be ready for too many assignments to help your neighbors.

Thus, it’s so important to practice grace-based self-discipline in our own lives so were practicing what we preach.

Self-discipline also keeps us healthy. It says in 1 Corinthians 9:21

“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 

Taking care of our physical health is extremely important to our spiritual lives, because if we are sick and exhausted, we physically can’t do the things God wants us to do as we could find ourselves held back from even walking down the beach to Beach Church in five years.    

By disciplining ourselves to be active and choosing a healthy lifestyle we’ll be able to best serve our family, neighbors, and God.

Obviously, physical health is very important, but it is just one aspect of health in our lives. Spiritual, emotional, and even social health, all bring balance to our lives and help us to live out the lives that God wants us to live. 

We need  grace-based self-discipline to prioritize quiet time with God and to spend quality time with our family and friends. 

These things don’t naturally happen in our lives if we don’t make them a priority. Our flesh is constantly waging war against us and our desires to do the right things and we must fight it every day.

Making right choices takes serious self-discipline. If we want to be spiritually, physically, and relationally healthy, we must do our part in conjunction with God.

Grace-based self-discipline Increases our focus and productivity, it says in Proverbs 13:4

“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” 

When you exercise grace-based self-discipline in your life, your mind is freed up to focus on what you need to focus on, instead of all the things you feel like you should be doing. Negative thoughts attack us every day, and when we lack self-discipline in our lives and neglect to do the things we know we need to be doing, those negative thoughts attack hard. 

These thoughts can make us feel ashamed of ourselves, and when we walk around with shame and self-hatred, it consumes our focus and steals our productivity. On the contrary, when we feel good about ourselves and most of the choices we are making (since we won’t ever make ALL good choices), we have more confidence in ourselves, God is working through us, and when we put our hands to things, they prosper.

The bottom line is that a grace-based self-disciplined life brings us closer to God and puts us in a better position to hear from Him. It causes us to make better choices and walk in the path God has for us because we take time to listen to His voice. 

We experience His peace when we walk through hard times because we are disciplined to study His word and we remember His promises about carrying us through. We can bless others by making ourselves available to speak God’s Word into their lives. 

A spiritually strong life is a wonderful life to live, but it doesn’t come without our effort and participation with God.  

I promise you, if you are willing to partner with God in choosing what you want MOST over what you want NOW, God’s grace will lead you to victory.

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday.

Pastor Rick