Author: Dr Glen

Self-Discipline

Part one

Your thoughts and way of thinking

Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)

One of the first organs to develop before birth is the brain, and it is the brain that controls the body’s functions.

A person’s behavior is reflective of their thinking or the thoughts they are having. When a person is thinking positive, and is having positive thoughts, that person will display a positive behavior. A person that is thinking negative, or having negative thoughts will display a negative behavior.  

As I began my research on this topic of self-discipline in the Webster’s Universal College Dictionary, I noticed that right under the definition of “self-discipline” was the definition of “self-doubt”.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart so is he” (NKJV) 

If a person is going to have positive self-discipline, then that person is going to have to continue thinking positive.

James 1:7,8 “For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. Vs. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (KJV)    

Having “toggling thoughts” (going back and forth with positive or negative thoughts) can delay a person’s progress in obtaining positive self discipline. Doubting yourself can cause thoughts like “can I really do this?”

A person might ask how do I cope with going from having positive thoughts, to having negative thoughts in my thinking.

Fear or doubt may be the source of having negative thoughts when a person is trying to focus on having positive thoughts.

2nd Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (NKJV)

An excuse can be why it didn’t happen…A reason can be why it did happen. Fear can be a cause of doubt and doubt can be a cause of fear. Many times when a person is putting forth an effort to have good self-discipline, fear or doubt can appear in their thinking.

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (NKJV)

Setting unreasonable goals, can contribute to someone not reaching the goal that has been set. A person has to be careful not to allow pride or haughtiness to influence one’s self-discipline.

Lord Jesus, I look to You for strength to help with my way of thinking and my thoughts, in Jesus name… Amen!

Next week’s post

Part two of the series Self-discipline

“Habits”

Continuing in His service…Rev

Self-Discipline

Introduction

Romans 7:15 ^“For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” (NKJV)

Self-discipline can be defined as; applying the needed effort on your own, to do what needs to be done, to get the results that a person wants to obtain.

In a previous post on our site “Letting go of the past”, I blogged about transitioning out of 2019 into 2020 and how many people make this the time to make “New Years” resolutions.

Having a lack of Self-discipline, can hinder a person’s efforts to accomplish goals that have been set. Remaining focused on the goal that has been set will help tremendously when a person encounters distractions.

In the up coming weeks, there will be several different posts on topics that will relate to this series on Self-discipline. I am excited about how God will touch individuals that follow this series on Self-discipline, and how they will experience a positive change in their lives.

I encourage those who have been viewing the weekly blogs that are being posted this site, to follow this series and invite others to subscribe to this ministry.

“Father, you art in heaven and hallow is your name. I thank you for the nuggets that you drop into my spirit to minister to your people, and that they will always be used to your glory and to your honor. It is my prayer that this series on Self-discipline will help those who are struggling with making a change in their lives in Jesus name…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev

“God Is Sovereign”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“(NIV)

If you look up the word “sovereign” in a dictionary, you will find other words in the description like; supreme, preeminent, power, dominion and authority. You will also find phrases like; being above others and greatest in degree, being utmost or extreme.

Being sovereign means being the ultimate source of all power, authority, and everything that exists. God alone can make those claims; therefore, it’s God’s sovereignty that makes Him superior to all other gods and makes Him, and Him alone, worthy of all praise and worship.

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, with no limitations. He is the one and only true and living God all by Himself.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)

Many times a person can look at what is happening in the world or their lives and ask the question, why is this happening or why is God allowing this to happen?

Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (NKJV)

Make no mistake about it…God is still in control and He knows what He is doing! He is the one and only true and living God, all by Himself.

Romans 8:31 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NKJV)

Many times when we are trying to figure it out, God has already worked it out.

Isaiah 45:18 “For thus says the Lord,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:
“I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (NKJV)

There is absolutely nothing that happens that God is not in control of also there are no limitations on God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Because God is sovereign, He is:

• “I Am” Exodus 3:14
• King Of Kings and Lord of Lords 1^st Timothy 6:15
• A wonderful counselor Isaiah 9:6
• The bright and morning star Revelations 22:16

God is also:

• Omnipresent–being everywhere at the same time
• Omnipotent—all powerful
• Omniscient—all knowing

“Thank you God for your sovereignty, and for being in total control over everything in this world and universe. Thank you for causing all things to work together for good, in spite of what it may look like. You are truly the Alpha and Omega…in Jesus name.” Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

“Letting go of the past”

Philippians 3:12,13 and 14 “ Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also hold of me. Vs 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Vs 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

We have just transitioned out of the previous year of 2019 and into the New Year of 2020. It is also the time that many people make what we call “New Year’s resolutions.” Normally people make a resolution on New Year’s Eve to do something different and life-altering in the coming year.

Many times people don’t realize the difficulty in breaking old or bad habits, and developing new and better habits. Holding on to the past will keep a person from moving forward into their future.

The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a runner running in a race to describe the believers’ spiritual growth. Like the runner in a race, we must continue to pursue and put forth an effort to reach our goal. When a runner begins to get close to the finish line, that runner will start to lean forward in an effort to be the first to cross the finish line. If that runner is leaning backwards, there is a chance that he will lose the race.    

Paul also uses several terms in Philippians chapter 3 that describes positive actions toward “letting go of the past”

Press on; to continue attempts to reach forward with energetic action 

Lay hold; making something your own possession

But one thing I do; remaining focused in spite of distractions that happen.

Forgetting those things that are behind; and reaching forward to those things which are ahead

From time to time we will remember events that happened in the past, both good and bad. It’s acceptable to remember the past, but if a person dwells on the past, they are allowing themselves to be distracted by the past. Dwelling in the past can hinder efforts in the present to move forward.

Letting go of the past has to be done in order to move forward into the future. Believers can use their imagination to be able to see themselves accomplishing the goals that have been set.

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, “let us lay aside every weight” and the sin which so easily ensures us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

In order to accomplish goals that have been set, there are some people, places and things that you are going to have to let go of because of their weight. If we don’t remain focused on the goal, weight will ensnare us.

Isaiah 43:18,19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Vs 19 Behold I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

If a person continues to do what they have always been doing, they will continue to have the same results. With new ideas and new vision, a change can take place, and the impossible will become possible.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Letting go of the past will enable a person to grasp and hold on to the future.

Mark 2:22 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

New ideas will not work if you hold on to old plans. It’s acceptable to glance back at the past, but the main focus should be on looking forward to the future.

Abba Father thank you for the many blessings that You bestowed upon your people in 2019. May the year of 2020 bring additional blessings and prosperity to your people as we “let go of the past” and look to the future…in Jesus name. Amen!