Often I find that whenever I consider discipline or self-discipline I am focussing on a specific aspect or area of life.  Maybe it is discipline to rehearse music or do technical work like scales and studies.  Or perhaps the discpline of exercising regularly, or choosing healthy options when eating.  We often hear about things that will grow us spiritually, such as spending time in prayer, being still and listening for God’s voice, and studying the Bible.

New Year’s comes and New Year’s goes.  We say “this year I will exercise 3 times a week for half an hour” or “this year I will commit to read through the entire Bible”.  We set these goals, sometimes not quite so specifically.  I am very skilled at opting for vague goals.  I think somewhere along the line I felt this might increase my chances of success when I could re-interpret by years end.  For example, “I want to spend more time in prayer” or “I want to cultivate more intentional relationships”.  The only thing I can be accountable to is my original intention behind setting the goal in the first place.  There is nothing within these goals that truly define anything.

So, it’s mid-March and I’m going on about discipline and New Year’s resolutions and you ask “Why is that?”  Maybe if I applied more discipline in crafting a clear-cut blog post you might already have your answer.  But alas, you’re stuck with what you see.  As for the “why” of this post, it certianly isn’t because I have answers.  But I had a thought last night.  (Just one… I have a quota and I try not to go over it very often.)

What if we take a more holistic view of discipline?  What if we allow the motivation for our physical exercise to be a by-product of our prayer life which in turn helps us focus on others, who may be the people we end up exercising with and then later praying with?  What if we listen to podcasts of solid Scriptural teaching or audio books of C.S. Lewis (for example) while running/walking/treadmilling, or do memory work of Bible verses while we do push-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups?  What if we practise our music for band, but make it part of our devotional time when we look up and reflect upon the words of the featured tunes?  What if getting up in the morning to meet with God could become the opportunity to literally walk with Him and talk with Him?

Just thinking…. but also wondering what discipline and lifestyle really are about.

Until another random thought… O Live, People!