Why Discipline?

To answer this question, the Lord laid on my heart 1Timothy 4:7-8, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Physical training.

In the last decade, our culture has become aware of the physical decay of our earthly bodies. We've seen the  negative impacts of indulgent foods loaded with sweets and indulgent lifestyles lacking in exercise. So, we've begun to discipline ourselves through diet and exercise, trusting that taking control over our bodies will reap the rewards of weight loss and longer life.

The reality with dieting and exercise is that we have to get a long-term perspective. We have to look at what we want our life to be, not what we want the next fifteen minutes to be. Do we want to be unhealthy and lethargic forever? If the answer is no, then we have to start making decisions in the short-term that are focused on the long-term. We have to start saying "no" to unhealthy food that we want now, in order to say "yes" to the healthy body that we want later. And, according to Paul, this training is good for us while we're here on earth.

Spiritual training.

The reality with spiritual growth is that we have to get a long-term perspective. We have to look at what we want our life to be, not what we want the next fifteen minutes to be. Do we want to be spiritual sluggards forever? If the answer is no, then we have to start making decisions in the short-term that are focused on the long-term. We have to start saying "no" to petty activities and worthless goals that we want now, in order to say "yes" to the godly life that we want later. And, according to Paul, this training is good for us while we're here on earth and good for us when we get to heaven.

The real paradox is that discipline now brings freedom later. It is only when we discipline our bodies through diet and exercise that we recognize that we have control over our physical bodies, and we lose weight and become healthy. In the same way, it is only when we discipline our spirits through things like prayer, meditation, fasting, simplicity, and solitude that we recognize that we have control over our sinful nature, and stop sinful thinking and habits and grow spiritually.


In short, spiritual disciplines show us that we are no longer controlled by the flesh and make us open to the work of the Spirit in our lives.