Christ Following, life, prayer
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
“Discipline is freedom.” Wrap your brain around that! I read through Foster’s book with an equal amount of conviction and excitement about a disciplined life. I’ve always considered myself a relatively disciplined person (at least in a few areas) but I know I could use an adjustment here and there. I learned a long time ago that praying for God to help me be disciplined was crazy talk like praying for longer hair or bigger muscles. Discipline is a choice and a daily decision. It’s not just going to come over you by supernatural influence.
The thing I’ve found though, is that it really DOES bring freedom! I meet with people all the time that are struggling. They struggle with their commitment to Christ, they struggle with their weight, they struggle with their marriage, they struggle with… everything! It astounds me how many times the answer just comes back to discipline. To the struggling believer, I ask, “How’s your prayer life?” The answer is usually a long list of activities that are taking priority over prayer. I see friends struggling with their weight that just can’t seem to establish a discipline of exercise and restraint, pastors with declining churches that won’t discipline themselves to read, grow, and learn a better way, and families falling apart that fail to discipline themselves to say no to all the things that compete for their time together.
I know that’s a pretty general approach to many of the problems that we face. My intention is not to come off as insensitive and all “Drill Sargent-y”. But isn’t it much easier to wish than it is to take practical steps to do? I turned my life over to Christ 25 years ago. I’ve seen many wonderful people turn away from the faith during that time, and I have the pleasure of worshiping alongside others who were with me when I made the most important decision ever. When I look at the lives of those who fell away, gave up the fight, and abandoned their relationship with God, I find only one common thread, only one difference between them and those who are still serving Him today, and it’s a lack of discipline to seek God. That’s it! We all had similar problems, obstacles, and issues. It’s just that the disciplined ones stayed. Hence the old saying, “He who prays stays, and he who fasts lasts“.
There’s an old man in his 90s that I know from the YMCA. His name is Ernie. He swims six days a week! Because of his discipline, he has energy, he’s strong, mobile, and sharp as can be. He didn’t start swimming when he turned 90. He’s been doing it for decades, and now he experiences a great deal of freedom for a man his age. Many men, younger than him, come into the gym feeble, sickly, and tired because they they spent so many years without discipline and now they’re there under doctor’s orders. I don’t know about you, but I want to be like Ernie!
Being disciplined helps you to last. It brings freedom from bondage. It conditions you to serve better. It creates a condition in you that allows God to transform you!
If you don’t believe me, give it a try. Pick a discipline, like prayer or reading, and stick to it every day for six weeks. You WILL notice a difference! Your desires change. You start to long for the good stuff. Your capacity for achievement increases because you’re growing and expanding. Your mind even starts to sharpen because you’re forcing yourself to develop new habits (a side effect to counter-intuitiveness).
I believe so strongly in the power of discipline that, if it doesn’t help you, I’ll refund the money I charged you for reading this blog 😉
One last thing. If you do decide to give it a try, think about posting your benefits on this blog. You never know who you’ll encourage!
Christ Following, ministry, prayer
With tears in his eyes and as much attitude that he could muster, my six-year-old son looked at me, flexed his right bicep, and yelled, “I’m as strong as a bear!” He took a pillow smash in the face from his older brother and it hurt. He just didn’t want anyone to know it. I tried to comfort him and intervene but he wasn’t interested. He just wanted everyone to know how strong he was.
He spent all night preparing a sermon he thought would mark a turning point in his church. He preached it with passion, then punctuated it with a well rehearsed song. When the appeal was made, no one responded. It was like God slept in that Sunday. What happened?
2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Our weakness is the condition that allows God to work! He works in us and through us when we are weak. Every time I read this passage I’m amazed. “My power works best in weakness.” He didn’t say, “My power works best when your strong.” or “My power works best when you keep your chin up.”
Paul didn’t say that the power of Christ worked through him because of his speaking ability, education, ministry budget, musical talent, new sound system, or Bible software either. I’m not against those things but it floors me how many ministers will spend five hours preparing their message and five minutes preparing their heart.
It’s our weakness that drives us to our knees. It’s our weakness that keeps us centered on Jesus. It’s our frailty that allows Him to comfort us, heal us, and give us wisdom when we’re hurting or afraid.
In ministry, it’s the awareness of how feeble we are that keeps us fully depending on God to move, instead of using our talents to manipulate people to respond to our message. When we realize how truly useless we are without Him and cry out to him for help, then He can move in and do what only He can do.
So be free to be weak. You really aren’t as strong as a bear. Your abilities, talents, and budget are needed and are good things, but they really won’t change the world. When we stop flexing our muscle, God will flex His. And when He flexes… it changes everything.
Ireland, Missions
Today was a great day of ministry! We had church with Emmanuel Community Church of Dundalk. What a special worshiping church! I had the honor of giving the message this morning, and then the interns and I prayed for members of the congregation. Afterward we had a good “craic” with Pastor Peter and his wife Philemena at McGeough’s. Other members from the church were there and it was such rich fellowship!
Tomorrow, we’ll be meeting with the father of a girl who is strongly considering the Furnace Midwest internship. He has some questions and, since we’re here, we’re going to meet with him personally! So many here have shown great interest in the School of Worship and The Furnace. I think God might be preparing us to be an international ministry!
Emmanuel Community Church Dundalk
Worshiping at Emmanuel
Praying for our friends in Dundalk
Sunday lunch at McGeough's
Ireland, Missions, prayer
What a terrific day! This morning we had a powerful prayer meeting with the people of Emmanuel Community Church in Dundalk. We prayed the Word of God, prayed for each other, and talked about praying with diligence and perseverance. Lots of prayers, hugs, and tears. It’s so amazing to see God moving in Ireland!
After prayer, the ladies from the church made s homemade soup and scones. The fellowship and food was so refreshing!
This evening, we were on the radio, with Pastor Peter Lynch, discussing prayer. It’s such a challenge to talk about prayer to an unsaved listening audience. What an honor to go on the air and share with thousands of people in Ireland about drawing nearer to God!
On our way back to Slane we stopped to see Slane Abbey one more time. Watching the sun set from such an incredible place is truly breathtaking!
Enjoy the video and pictures…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M8iO01vLfE]
Prayer meeting in Dundalk
Lunch with friends
On the air on Dundalk FM 100
Sunset at the Hill of Slane
Slane Abbey
Ireland, Missions
Today the team hiked up the Hill of Slane to check out Slane Abbey, a great site where St. Patrick himself established a church. From it you can see for miles around. While the team was out hiking, I decided to get some laundry done. It took me 20 minutes just to figure out how to open the dryer door! I’d swear that, when I took my clothes out of the dryer, they were more wet than when I put them in. They are all currently hanging on the oil heat registers throughout the cottage.
Tonight we had the privilidge of ministering at the Emmanuel Community Church youth group. It was great! I talked to them about prayer and we all called on God together for our friends and families. The church is down the street from the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a massive structure that has to be seen to fully appreciate the scope and breadth of it.
Slane Abbey from the trail
Slane Abbey
It was a muddy hike. Bethany lost the sole of her shoe.
St. Patrick's from across the street
St. Patrick's Cathedral
