The Value of Discipline
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
Ask any parent whose son or daughter has shipped off to boot camp and they’ll tell you… they don’t like to think about what their kids will face when they’re there. The yelling, the humiliation, the long days…and longer nights- it all makes a Momma’s heart ache with concern. We want to protect them from harm and to those looking on, the practices certainly look harmful. We’ve all heard the stories of excruciating exertion and the drills that tax body, mind and spirit - it’s something we’d rather not see our sons or daughters experience. But it’s all part of the training. We might look at it and think that it’s too much, it’s too harsh, it’s overkill. If we were there we might be tempted to step in and put a stop to it, give them all a break, give the drill sergeant the ‘stink eye’ for being too hard and unkind. We’d want to protect them…. But by helping them avoid the testing, we’d actually be doing them harm. All of those hard things are training them for hardship and building discipline that will carry them through. It’s preparing them for war. That’s even harder to think about.
If our soldiers are called upon to defend our country or to assist an ally, they will be stretched beyond their limits and will endure more than they imagined. They will be sleep deprived. They will be exhausted beyond their limits, but still pushed to give more. They will need to think fast, make life-altering decisions and pursue them with conviction. They will face the enemy and they’ll need to know how to respond. Then, we would be glad for the extreme training they endured because it would make us more confident in their ability to withstand the dangers of war and the advances of the enemy. Boot camp is hard and downright painful. But it’s necessary and it’s all designed with the intention of preparing the soldier to survive and to win the battle because the enemy doesn’t fight with compassion…the enemy fights to destroy.
The question is, do we want our sons and daughters to be comfortable or to be victorious? Our sons and daughters are not possibly headed to war, they’re already there. Do they have the spiritual discipline to be victorious?
Do we want our sons and daughters to be comfortable or to be victorious?
God tells us we have an enemy that seeks to destroy us, spiritually.
1 Peter 5:8-10 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
He assures us that we will all face trials, hardships, and opposition, but these will come to test, strengthen, and build our faith so that we can resist the enemy and come out victorious. Without that testing, we wouldn’t be able to stand firm and without discipline, we wouldn’t produce fruit that gives evidence that we belong to Christ.
James 1:2-4 “ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
That word “produce” in Hebrews 12:11 is the word “apodidommi” in Greek and it means “to deliver again, give again, restore, reward and yield.” (1) If we accept God’s plan of discipline and training, it will pay off each and every time we go to battle! The training will make us strong and help us endure and come out victorious.
Are we spiritually prepared and strengthened to go up against the enemy?
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Friends, it’s not a scheduled conflict. We don’t ‘show up’ for a fight, this is guerilla warfare. The enemy stalks us while we’re unaware, he attacks us when we’re weak and unprepared. He seeks to lean into our weaknesses and bait us with those desires that are not of God. He has armies who advance against us, so we had better be prepared. No discipline is pleasant at the time, but when we’re in the midst of battle, we’ll be thankful for it, because it will produce a harvest of peace and righteousness. It will protect us from defeat. It will be the strength and preparation we need to be steadfast against the enemy and to be victorious in Jesus Christ.
We can’t balk if our sons and daughters are called into a spiritual boot camp, because that tells us God is preparing them to be stronger, more secure in their faith, and for a greater work for His kingdom. So, rather than worry about how WE can protect them, let’s get on our knees FOR them. Pray for their endurance. Pray for their strength. Pray that they can see, with spiritual eyes, what God is calling them to and preparing them for. Pray that they remain steadfast and see beyond the realm of the tangible to the spiritual realm where they will do battle with the enemy. And pray for victory.
“Almighty Father, You are Sovereign over all my son or daughter may face today. I pray that You would strengthen (name) to walk unwaveringly with You. Keep their steps firm and make their path straight. Give (name) confidence to trust You, even when life gets difficult. Don’t let (name) weaken or lose their grip, but help them cling tightly to You. Carry them through the hardships they may face today and in the coming days. Increase their faith. Call to mind Scripture that will encourage them and keep them focused on You. I pray, Father, that You would guard them in Jesus’ name. Protect them from the enemy. When they are pressed on every side, surround them with Your Presence. When they are burdened with difficulty, lift them up and train their eyes to look to You. When they are in deep waters, hold back the waves with Your mighty hand so they can see the Rock of Salvation to which they must cling. Lord, build in them the discipline they need to remain faithful to You. I pray this all in the name and through the blood of Jesus, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
G591 - apodidōmi - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g591/niv/mgnt/0-1/
Authentic Rest
As parents, our lives are crazy-busy, right? We’re continuously running after something, putting out fires, or trying to stay two steps ahead. It’s exhausting. As our sons and daughters become adults, the ‘busy’ doesn’t stop, it just shifts to other things. Then, we watch as our kids juggle,and run, and try to keep up. It doesn’t stop. Many will admit they’re in desperate need of rest. But so few know how to actually embrace and enjoy authentic rest. Where do we find it? How can we get it?
Jesus said, ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”” Matthew 11:28 Could it really be that simple?
Come to me all you who are weary. That word “weary” is the word “kopiao” in Greek and it means “exhausted with toils and burdens” (1), but it’s from the root word “kopos” which means “a beating, intense labor united with trouble and toil” (2) It’s true. Sometimes we feel as if life is giving us a beating…and each day compounds with the next until we’re barely able to cope. We’re not thriving. We are weary.
But that’s not all. We’re not just weary, we’re burdened. The Greek word is “phortizo” which means loaded with spiritual anxiety, burdensome requirements (3). Jesus was addressing the rules of the Jews- so burdensome that no one could ever measure up. But today, we are often burdened by the unrealistic examples set before us, the ‘influencers’ who look as if they have it all together, success at work, brilliant happy children, a beautiful home and the perfect figure…both in income and body. They have it all together and we just can’t measure up. We feel defeated. And it’s not just in the world, it’s in the church. We’re loaded with unrealistic man-made expectations that weigh us down.
Jesus calls us to come to Him. That’s the first step in pursuing rest. We need to make the choice. We choose so many of the ‘cares’: care-giver, care-taker, self-care, healthcare…but we often forget soul care. And that, friends, is where the weariness settles into our hearts and minds and weighs on us like no other burden can. We need to stop looking all around us and simply look to Him. We need to come. We don’t need to bring a gift, prepare a meal, or get all ‘gussied up’. We come as we are. That’s how Jesus wants us.
And what will happen when we come? Oh, when we come, He promises rest. The word ‘rest’ in Greek is “anapauo” which means “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength; to keep quiet, of a calm and patient expectation” (4) It is rooted in two other words: ‘ana’ - into the midst, or to cause motion upward (5) and ‘pauo’- to make to cease and desist, to refrain a person from something (6). Jesus steps into the midst of our busy crazy life and brings a pause and calls us upward, to Him. He calls us to stop and recover. He calls us from burning ourselves out with all of the ‘doing’ and to pause and enjoy ‘being’ in His Presence.
Oh, don’t we long to have someone say to us “Come here so you can just stop and rest, lay down your burdens and worries and take time to recover and collect your strength., enjoy the calm and take your time, there’s no rush”? Breathe that in for a moment, friends. THAT is rest! And that’s what Jesus promises us. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t need to buy it. There are no prerequisites. Jesus’ rest is free for those who come. Far too often, we’re rushing to and fro, so much so, that we can’t stop… we don’t stop…and we bemoan our weariness and wish someone would allow us time to rest and would give us refreshment for our body, mind and soul. Jesus has. He does.
We set examples for our sons and daughters in so many things…but have we shown them how to properly, intentionally rest? Have we communicated that rest is not laziness and that soul-care is not selfish? Have we lived “coming to Jesus and resting” so they can see it modeled?
Friends, let’s pray today that we and our sons and daughters learn how to Come to Jesus with our weariness and step away from unrealistic expectations. Let’s pray that we allow Jesus to step into the midst and reminds us to cease our striving and simply rest in Him. Let’s enjoy the calm of sitting with Jesus and not rush on to the next thing. Let’s take enough time that we recover our strength for what He’s calling us to, not running after what the world tells us we need to do. Jesus will give us rest. We need to be intentional to step into it.
“Father, You call us to come to You for rest, yet we seem to struggle with that. We crave relief and recovery, yet we look everywhere else but to You. We fall into the trap of busyness and always ‘doing’ but we struggle to just ‘be’ in your Presence. Help us today to come to You to rest. Give us refreshment. Unburden our hearts and minds and still our restless spirits. I pray that You would help me model this well to others, especially to (name). Lord, I pray that (name) would learn quickly to look to Jesus for the remedy for their weary body, mind and soul. Don’t let us be distracted by the pace of this life or discouraged by influencers who would set unrealistic standards. You are the Standard. Let us look to You, only, and trust that You are working in us to fulfill Your plan in Your time. Lord, give us willing hearts to follow after You and rest in You. Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)
Pray without ceasing.
1. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
2. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
3. G5412 - phortizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5412/niv/mgnt/0-1/
4. G373 - anapauō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g373/niv/mgnt/0-1/
5. G303 - ana - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g303/niv/mgnt/0-1/
A Prescription for Love
Mark 12:28-30 “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
So much of life is performance based, isn’t it? We’re always evaluated by what we can say, do and accomplish. We get jobs based on our experience and skills. We gain friends and followers with our words and actions. We earn awards and recognition by our accomplishments. So, when it comes to our spiritual lives, it’s no wonder we often misunderstand what God expects of us and how we should love Him. So many ‘religions’ put emphasis on effort…man’s effort, in order to gain God’s love and approval.
What if…..what if we just followed Jesus’ words? What if we simply believed and obeyed? What if we removed all of the labels: “Baptist”…“Presbyterian”… “Methodist”, “teacher”, “preacher”, “member” and we were simply known as a “Christ-followers”? What if we simply loved Christ and, in loving Him, were able to let others see Him in and through us? It’s what Jesus calls us to do.
But the teachers of the law were very concerned about rules. They wanted to keep the law to a “T”. They missed the truth of the gospel in the midst of their obsessions with following rules. Too often, it seems, we do the same. We check boxes or sign statements that affirm we believe the right things. We do ‘all the things’ that demonstrate our commitment. But it becomes works based and we pat ourselves on the back for being so dedicated, so knowledgeable, so … ‘Christian’. Yet, we lack the very thing that God says is most important.
In Mark 12:30, Jesus told the teachers of the law what the most important commandment was- “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
He calls us to love Him. The Greek word used here is ‘agapaio’ (1) which means to welcome and entertain, to be fond of and to love dearly. It also means to be well-pleased and contented. Are we contented with Christ or do we seek out other people and things to fill us? Do we rely on our efforts and associations to prove our faith or are we so in love with Jesus that everything is an outpouring of that relationship?
Next, He says we should love with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Isn’t it curious that Jesus doesn’t talk about emotions? Far too often we equate ‘love’ with how we ‘feel’, but emotions are a by-product, not the source of love. Hence, if people are dependent on emotions, they fall in and out of love because their feelings change; they no longer ‘feel’ for that other the way they once did. Jesus says, first we must love Him with our heart- the seat and center of our physical and spiritual life, the inner man (2).
Then He calls us to love Him with our soul-the very breath of life He breathed into us when He created us. Our soul is that spiritual force that animates the body and is not dissolved by death. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has set eternity in the heart of man. Our soul is ‘built’ for eternity. It is the spiritual part of us that can truly connect with God (3). It is the part of us that is drawn to that very relationship with Him.
Then, Jesus asks us to love Him with our mind- the faculty of understanding, feeling, and desiring (4). When we love with our mind, we make a choice to intentionally choose to commit our lives to Jesus. It’s a rational decision based on our understanding of Who God is and how He loves us.
Finally, Jesus calls us to love Him with all of our strength. That is what the Greek defines as might, ability, force, to hold oneself to a thing, be joined to- to the extent of one’s ability (5). He wants us to cling to Him with all that is in us.
Do our sons and daughters love Jesus well? Or, do we hear them saying “I just don’t ‘feel’ close to the Lord.”? Today, let’s pray that they will love the Lord with all their heart- the center of their being, with all their soul- the very part of them that connects to eternity, with all of their mind- an intentional choice to pursue Christ, and with all of their strength- clinging to Jesus with every ounce of ability He provides.
“Father, You love us so well. Thank You for being constant, faithful, unshakeable and merciful to us in our weakness. I pray for (name) today. Help them to pursue You with all that they are and have. Remind them it’s not about ‘feelings’ but about faith, commitment, and a choice to follow Jesus with all they have and all they are. It’s about obedience-no matter what. Lord, I ask that You would work in (name)’s heart- the very center of who You created them to be. Lord, You knew them before You formed them in the womb. Stir in their heart a desire to live for You. Draw them, Lord, and speak to their soul. Cause (name) to thirst after You (Ps. 63:1). Give them a longing for more than what this temporary world can offer. Satisfy them with a love that is far deeper and more fulfilling than any they’ve ever known. Lord, give them a clear understanding that committing to and loving Jesus is what they were created to do. Help them to make the intentional, wise choice to follow in obedience and love You with all that they are. Give them strength to follow through on their commitment, especially when life gets hard. Lord, in those difficult times, we waver, we falter, we lose strength and we despair. Sometimes our frail hearts and minds can’t understand and embrace the enormity of Your love and of Your promises to us. We filter things through our own human experience and understanding- but You are so much more!! Lord, I pray that today, (name) would see and understand how much You love them. I pray they would catch a glimpse of the beauty and soul-embracing love of God. Help them be satisfied, as with the richest of foods and may their lips praise You (Ps 63:5). I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.
Sit on the Rock
Exodus 17:10-13 “So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”
Even though our sons and daughters are young, it doesn't mean they don’t grow weary. Physical weariness can happen to anyone. Young to old all grow weary. The young ones fall asleep anywhere- it’s cute and everyone understands. Yet, as we grow older, there is less tolerance for being tired, so we hide it. But it shows itself in other ways. You can see weariness in someone’s eyes. Their posture may become bent, their gait slows and their energy level loses its ‘sparkle’. Physical weariness isn’t difficult to spot. Spiritual weariness is more subtle and often better hidden. But it happens..to young and old alike. We need to be aware. And we need to be ready to offer support.
When God instructed Moses to hold his arms in the air to ensure Israel’s victory, it must have been invigorating...for the first few minutes. But as the minutes dragged into hours, Moses struggled. The physical drain was immense, but the spiritual burden was just as great. Israel’s success was dependent on Moses' obedience. If he let his arms fall, Israel would fall as well.
So, rather than berate him for getting weary or simply using words to urge him onward, Moses’ friends came alongside him, helped him sit down and, while he rested on a rock, they held up his arms for him. They carried the weight while he rested...on the rock.
There is a lot of spiritual symbolism in that, and a message we can carry to encourage our sons, daughters, friends and others. Rather than simply share ‘words’ or ‘kind thoughts’, let’s encourage those who are weary by offering them a seat on the Rock. Take them to Jesus in prayer and encouragement. And don’t just ‘drop them there’ but stand with them, hold them up, be the strength they need to remain until the battle is won.
Today, let’s pray the following for our sons and daughters:
That they would gladly take their seat on the Rock.
They would find rest in the Lord.
That when life is hard, Godly friends would uphold them and carry the burden with them until the battle is won.
That our sons and daughters would understand they don’t need to be strong on their own- God will sustain them and provide brothers and sisters in Christ to stand with them...and that they would accept that help, encouragement and support.
Pray without ceasing