Whole30 diet and other thoughts about discipline...

I am struck by these powerful words from Hebrews 12:11, "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."  The textual context is the discipline of a loving heavenly Father upon His children for their "good, that we may share in His holiness". 

Personally, I am highly motivated when I can attach physical disciplines to a spiritual purpose.  I have long felt that the care of my physical body was mandated by the scriptural idea that my body "is a temple of the Holy Spirit", I Corinthians 6:19.  I have always felt I should treat this permanent guest with better hospitality.  I have always been convicted about my effectiveness when counseling people about addictive behaviors while seeing myself reflected in a mirror exposing my own addiction to food grazing and self-medicating with late night snacks.  Yes, I know, men look on the outside whereas God looks at the heart BUT I do believe that this area reveals my penchant for trusting in my own finite resources--and thus exposing myself to danger--rather than embracing the infinite resources of God's care.

So about eighteen days I embarked on the Whole30 diet.  This is not a testimonial about its relative merits--that's for others to decide--but the net result of eating more carefully and taking care of myself in this intentional way with the primary goal being preserving myself t age 68 for family and ministry--has been astounding.

I feel less tired, more mentally alert, increasingly engaged with my work, and extremely thankful for the reaffirmation that discipline--though painful(no cheese? you gotta' be kidding!) for the moment--"produces of a harvest of righteousness (right living) and peace for those who have been trained by it."

I am not suggesting that you hit the Whole30 diet--you may be physically fit--but I am encouraging you to think about the area(s) in your life that are frequently undermined and sabotaged by your lack of discipline--and I'm guessing we all have them--and bring them under the wisdom of this promise of a meaningful harvest.  I am merely planting a seed, Hopefully you'll apply some water, knowing that God will provide the growth you are seeking.

A daily filter for godly living

James 4:13-17 presents some cryptic truths that I've had the privilege of sharing in several preaching opportunities in the last month. Studying these verses has resulted in a renewed passion for pursuing God's purposes for my life as I start each day. There are four questions I've determined to ask myself each morning that are promoted by this passage.

1.  Am I planning my day without asking God for His direction?  I can get caught up in the flurry of activity and opportunity around me and find myself scrambling to "fit" God into my busy schedule.

2.  Am I purposing to live my life with eternity in mind?  "Life is a vapor". As I get older I become increasingly aware of my mortality and the challenge to make redemptive use of my time.

3.  Am I pointing my compass towards the course God has set for me?  Do I want to know what His will is for my life today?  An old chorus repeats the refrain, "I have decided to follow Jesus".

4.  Am I prioritizing the importance of doing the right thing?  Do I see the peril of not acting on God's direction; it is as much sin as doing what I know is counter to God's Word.

Another new year beckons me to enter in to the confident affirmation of Paul's words in Philippians 2:13. "God is at work within you both to will and to do His good pleasure". I want to please Him. I want to do His will. I'm asking myself in this season what that looks like for me today. Here's a couple of  thoughts for digging deeper...

How much does what God wants really matter to me?
How buried am I in my own stuff unable to keep an open ear to a God's voice?
How anxious am I for healthy change and what am I willing to do to see it happen?
How much do I live with eternity in view?
How would my life be different if I chose to change course and to truly follow Jesus?

Make it a "happy new year" by asking the right questions and closing the right answers!