Spiritual Discipline: Why and How?

What comes to mind when we hear the word discipline?

For some people this word is not popular; for a few others, discipline is not a word they like because it is associated with meanings such as harsh, strict, and severe. For them, the meaning contained in this word tends to be negative.

 

What is discipline?

If we look at it with the right perspective, we will find that the word discipline has a very, very good meaning for a person's life:

Discipline comes from the Latin word DISCERE  which means TO LEARN. From that word developed the word DISCIPLINA  which means TEACHING / TRAINING.

Discipline in English comes from the word DISCIPLE  which means FOLLOWER / DISCIPLE.

Furthermore, this word developed in meaning to include obedience to rules as well as training to obey rules.

In other words, if everyone lives with discipline, then all parties can ensure the continuity of life and the smooth running of all activities in society! Hard work that is cultivated will produce a strong mentality that does not give up easily even in difficult circumstances. Discipline must become a character trait in every aspect of our lives.

Spiritual discipline

This includes spirituality as well: everyone needs to practice spiritual discipline. Spiritual discipline is described as all human behavior that improves the quality of spiritual growth, enabling a person to reach growth that is spiritually mature.

The purpose of this spiritual discipline is to develop the spiritual life of someone who has received Jesus, as written in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.

When someone receives Jesus it means that he must become like Christ. A person's old behavior will gradually change to become like Christ. Therefore, the first requirement to follow Him is to "deny oneself," in which a person must undergo inner renewal from the inside out. This includes a person's way of thinking, feelings, and character that influence behavior.

Spiritual discipline is described as all human behavior that improves the quality of spiritual growth, enabling a person to reach growth that is spiritually mature.

This is what Paul meant in the book of Colossians 3:9-10,

Do not lie to one another anymore, because you have put off the old self with its practices, (10) and have put on the new self, which is continually being renewed in true knowledge according to the image of its Creator

Therefore, spiritual discipline is greatly needed in the process of a person's renewal to become more like Christ.

However, what things must be done for spiritual discipline?

1. Be disciplined in the Word of God

Discipline of the Word includes and relates to the Word of God; beginning from reading, studying, memorizing, and also meditating on the Word of God. This is stated in Romans 1:16,

For I am firmly convinced of the Gospel, because the Gospel is the power of God that saves everyone who believes, first the Jew, but also the Greek.   Therefore, because the Gospel is the power of God, we must begin with discipline in the Word of God.

2. Be disciplined in Prayer

Prayer is the means God has given so that human beings can communicate with God. Through prayer we can express our gratitude , our requests, and even our confession of sin . Through prayer we can also develop a deep relationship with God.

If we are disciplined in the Word of God and Prayer, then we can equip ourselves to run the race to become like Jesus, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it! (25) Everyone who competes exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. (26) Therefore I do not run aimlessly, and I am not a boxer beating the air. (27) But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching the Gospel to others, I myself should be disqualified.

An athlete will train so that when the competition comes, he can overcome every challenge and receive the prize. For us children of God, how do we obtain that imperishable crown? We need Discipline Spiritual!

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• Praying with Full Confidence of Faith – Hebrews 10:19-22
• Why Do We Need to Take Medicine and Not Only Pray?
• Learning from Jesus' 12 Disciples: Principles of the Mission Task
• THE KEY TO SUCCESS: CHANGE

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