Discipline to Destiny

Yesterday morning I came across this scripture in my devotion, Proverbs 12:1  "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."

     At first I laughed because of how the translation, the  NIV,  is so plain spoken.  Next as I pondered on this verse it grew more and more clear.   

Proverbs is one of those books that seems to have an answer to all problems.  This is especially true when it comes to making right decisions.  The theme is wisdom, not just knowledge of a subject but application.  This is what true wisdom is.

When I read the word discipline my mind automatically went to punishment.  I think this does an injustice to the word.  Discipline is more than punishment but it is giving up something to get a better behavior.  It may means sacrificing something that is good for what is best.

Discipline does not have to have a negative con-nation about it.  Actually if used correctly it is very positive.  This could include disciplining a child to get the best behavior or disciplining ourselves to do the best thing.

 I found a quote that speaks volumes about this subject.  "Discipline is the bridge between Goals and Accomplishments".  Discipine is what brings our goals to reality.  It was what causes us to move from paper to action.

Goals often times are things we leave on paper hoping to see them accomplished.  We become distracted by the "same ole" life and never start moving toward the accomplishment of our goals.  We have great ideas but don't have the discipline to accomplish them.

The final quote that I found is "discipline NOT desire determines your destiny."  This is so true.  If what we desire could become reality just but desiring them we would see so much more accomplished. 

James reminds us in James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. "

So then next time someone mentions discipline think positive and know that it is what causes us to chose the "greater good".

So what do you think?

Summer: Reaping

Summer: Reaping the Harvest

Characteristics:  Long days, Harvest, Growth

Benefits:  Reaping, Celebration

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control.”  Galatians 5:22 

This is the season we have been waiting for.  Finally we get to see the "fruit of our labor".  It is hard to do so much in preparation and waiting on the harvest.  We can easily get impatient waiting.  It seems like it never comes.

    When I was a child I remember planting a bean in a cup.  We would water it daily and see what happens.  One day I got impatient, dug down and pulled the plant out.  The seed had busted but not broke ground.  This caused the plant to die.    Because of my impatience I lost harvest.

     Summer is coming if we have done the work for the harvest.  There is reaping and celebration during these times.  This is a time of growth.  It can be overwhelming but fun. 

     The work is not over.  The reaping must be done.  It takes time but it must be done.

      The summer time is also a time to enjoy the season.  There is a lot of work to be done  but we must enjoy the season.  

       We must keep a balance here.  If we don't reap then the harvest will die.  If we over work then we will be no good for the next season.

       Where are you in your season? We have seen winter, spring and summer next blog we will see fall. 

Spring: Preparing & Planting

Spring: Preparing & Planting

Characteristics: Transition, Preparation, New Life

Benefits: Planting, Preparation

“Lo, the winter is over; the rains are over and gone”
Song of Songs 2:11

     As soon as we leave the winter season we are so excited to see the spring.  Spring is a season of beauty.  We start seeing new life.  It is refreshing to see the change.

     Spring is a season of transition.  We are making transition from death to new life.  This is a time we plant and we make preparation for the harvest.

     The ground no longer has any hindrances to growth.  If we planted in the winter there would have been no growth.  The soil is not ripe and ready to plant.

      If we could only see the importance of the winter season.  A successful harvest is dependent on it.  This is also true for the spring.  If we don't plant then we won't have a harvest.

     Planting means preparing the ground and putting in the seed.  We can't waste this time.  This depends on the measure of what we sow. 

Galatians 6:7-9  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  (8)  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  (9)  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

There is an important principle that we must learn.  We always reap what we sow.  We only reap what we do so.  So we must be careful and sow in measure of what we want to receive.