Shortcut Short-circuits!

Job 31:¹ “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. ² For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high?”

Most of the time if we will be true to self, we will admit that when God wants to save us from disaster, we often think He just wants to punish us. 

God is nudging you to pray but you think He just wants to stop you from sleeping. Meanwhile, He wants to rearrange your future. When you actually submit to Him and delay gratification, the victories and ultimately the beauty of His Presence, makes a disciplined life worthwhile. It is just interesting how when we start corporate spiritual exercises, people come up with all sorts on schemes just to avoid the process. Discipline does not happen when we take shortcuts.

Gal. 5: ²⁵ “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” [with emphasis]. Living by the Spirit depends on our cooperation through self-discipline. Take the example of Job for instance; he entered into a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at any woman. That is self-discipline and that is living by the Spirit. You and I must keep in step with the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Isa. 30:²¹ “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” The Holy Spirit is moving and He is pointing out the direction to you. God is saying if you do not keep in step with the Holy Spirit, you will be in the flesh.

However, our self-discipline ultimately depends on the Holy Spirit’s work within us. Gal.5:¹⁸ [NIV] “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law… ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” One shows us that with the Holy Spirit we are free from the law and the other shows us that it is our responsibility to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says we are not to follow after the flesh and its passions. Instead, follow after the Holy Spirit who ultimately helps us crucify the flesh. The Holy Spirit helps us walk with Him and makes our lives disciplined and lives of character.

Thought: In what area do you need discipline and what would it take to do what it takes? Make some advance decisions to delay gratification and exercise discipline.

Prayer: Lord, help me to align myself with and to be in step with Your Spirit so that I will not walk in the flesh but walk by Your Spirit, in Jesus Name.