Disciplines #11

I've been talking of spiritual disciplines we can practice. These are things we do as Christians to get closer to God. The idea is that they are a discipline, so they won't come naturally. We have to work at them, but as we work, God works in our life and molds us through our time with Him. He molds us to be more like Jesus. Eventually the discipline just happen......it's a delight we have, not a duty anymore. They become a way of Christian life without us having to think of them too much. Now, this takes time to cultivate. It's not easy....but most things in life aren't easy if they are important to us.

Think of a baby. When I had my first baby I was scared. I was scared I couldn't do it. She didn't sleep well at night. I was a single mom with a full time job. With lack of sleep and working.....I was tired in those days. However, she was my child and I had to discipline myself to take care of this new little life I was given. I had to adjust my schedule......my whole routine.....and she was my top priority. It didn't matter if I was tired......she needed fed and attention. I had to do it. I had to be the one to take care of her. Those days weren't easy.....but she was my whole life. She was my responsibility and taking care of her was a duty that was very much delight at the same time. Watching her grow and crawl and walk was amazing. I matured a lot that first year of her life. My dad told me so......he noticed back then how I "grew up". I had to. Being a mom isn't easy, but it's worth it. Hard things in life don't seem that hard when they are important to us.

Another example....in 2012 I had a desire to help people in a way i never expected. God put that desire there.....I'm sure of that. I went to EMT school. It was the hardest thing I ever did. Again....I had to adjust my schedule, my routine, my whole way of living for the months I had class. I had to discipline myself to put this class in priority so I could pass and become an EMT. It wasn't easy, but important to me and it became a delight after it was a duty.

 We all face difficulties each day, but when we can persevere our God will show us  what we are made of. He shows us we need Him. I didn't know Jesus back in the early days of my daughters birth and first years of life. I look back and wonder how much more peace I could have had in those days had I known Him, but I can't change the past. Only learn from it and move towards the future. That is where theses disciplines I write about come into play. Learning from God and about God is a passion of mine. When I borrowed that book of the disciplines, I made notes and try to put to practice what I wrote about, hoping to help someone else in the process.