Discipline Yourself for the Purpose of Godliness

Presently there is much interest in spiritual disciplines and the process of spiritual formation. This derives from a sense of our urgent need for mental and emotional health, as well as spiritual depth, and from the simultaneous realization that recent standard practice of religious rituals is not meeting that need. Many serious and thoughtful believers are looking for ways into an intelligent and powerful godliness that can inform their entire existence and not just produce special religious moments. This is a very hopeful development.

But unless the interest in “spirituality,” as it is now sometimes called, finds a foundation in the nature of human personality and in God’s redemptive interactions therewith, it will be at most a passing fad. Moreover, it is possible for people not only to be disappointed in this area, but seriously harmed. We need to think deeply and clearly about spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation and in particular about their relationships with the human soul, the deepest dimension of human personality.

A spiritual discipline is a good habit that allows you to remain open to God and develop yourself spiritually. Discipline is one of the hardest things for us to learn. Think of some of our finest athletes. Most of them have a strong sense of discipline, because they have to build up strength, endurance, and skill to be good at a particular sport. Surgeons spend years developing their surgical skills and learning the human body so that they are able to skillfully fix what is malfunctioning in the body. Our favorite writers have the discipline to sit down every day to write, edit, and re-write until the story is right. They hone their language skills and their ability to see a final product in all of the chaos of storytelling. That’s what spiritual disciplines are to our faith.

“Discipline yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”(1 Tim. 4:7)

William James said “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.”

Becoming a godly person requires change. We must remove old habits and develop new ones. Discipline is that determined effort on our part that corrects molds and perfects the character of a person. Holy character does not come all at once, but over a lifetime. Our disciplines will determine our destiny. It begins in the mind.

Romans 12:2 says “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”.

God’s word is the best source of guidance for godliness. “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Ps. 19:7)

Human beings are creatures of habit. We tend to continue acting as we have acted in the past. Like a river flowing through a canyon, the longer a habit continues, the more deeply it becomes ingrained, and the harder it is to change.

This is true of all habits, good or bad. Paul shows that major changes must occur when we are transformed to serve God “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”( Ephesians 4:22-24)

Notice the terms: “put off the old self” and “put on the new self”. Paul says old practices and attitudes must be replaced by new ones. Before people are willing to act, they must be motivated.

The desire to be like someone we admire is a powerful motivation. Sports heroes like,Sachin Tendulkar and Saina Nehwal inspire young people in athletics. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are models for patriotic citizens. So godly people like Enoch, Abraham, Noah, Joseph, Daniel, and Ruth motivate us to serve God. But the greatest example of all is that of Jesus. John 13:15 Jesus said” I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” 1 John 2:6 says “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Many godly men of the past have been richly blessed by what they learned from their mothers. Consider the biblical characters Moses, Samuel, and Timothy. The maternal influence experienced by these spiritual leaders bore rich fruit in their lives. Think too of men like Augustine, John Newton, and the zealous Wesley brothers. Their names would probably never have lighted the pages of history if it hadn’t been for the godly women who raised them in homes where the law of love and a spiritual discipline were their daily guide and inspiration.

Susannah Wesley, for example, spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters. No wonder two of her sons, Charles and John, were used of God to bring blessing to all of England and USA.

Metropolitan Bishop Dr K.P. Yohannan said, “My mother prayed and fasted for three-and-a-half-years, every Friday, that at least one of her sons would become a missionary. I didn’t know this was going on, but this was her devout walk with the Lord, and her prayers were answered when God called me,” No wonder Believers Church, today is being used of God to bring blessing.

Oswald Sanders said; “Only the disciplined person will rise to his highest power. He is able to lead because he has conquered himself.” There are four things you can do for yourself to be godly.

1. “You have to discipline yourself for godliness.” 1 Tim. 4:7
2. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)
3. “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
4. Encourage yourself “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)