Disciplined To...

I sit here, listening through the wall to next door where my friend is playing her guitar and praising the Lord. The words "You give and take away, Lord blessed be Your name" will stay with me all afternoon. A discipline to remember truth.

A woman who never ceased to be smiling was once asked, "how do I gain the joy that you express?" She took a moment to gather her thoughts, then said, "I suppose it is a discipline that I have chosen -  a discipline of gratefulness, for each part that happens in my day."  A discipline to thankfulness.

One dear lady received a harsh word from me a few days ago, and graciously responded, extending forgiveness even before I could ask it. A discipline to humility.

I read Romans chapter eight the other day, a day where homesickness was tapping me on the shoulder. "The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God's purpose it has been so limited - yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!" {Rom. 8:20-22}  In this tyranny of change I have hope. A discipline to walk by faith, not by sight.

In this rush of people, personalities, darkened eyes, lost souls ~ I am seeing that God is in the waiting. Going forward, charging ahead, furious pursuit, being brash about Truth and expecting to get through? No, it cannot be. Self-restraint, unfulfilled longing to see those enlightened eyes, to see answered prayer in this dark place. God is in the waiting.

"Steadfastnss - that is holding on; 

Patience - that is holding back;

Expectancy - that is holding the face up;

Obedience - that is holding oneself in readiness to go or do;

Listening - that is holding quiet and still so as to hear." {S.D. Gordon}

How long O Lord, must I wait?  A discipline to waiting.

Yet God answers. Sometimes in whispers - little things like a conversation, a chance meeting at Trader Joes, a new face to get acquainted with, an opportunity to listen. I don't want to miss God's whispers, thinking they were nothing. I want to be ready to listen or be shown, and see whatever it is He has chosen as His means. A discipline to hear.

It is a choice to be disciplined ~ to love Him because He first loved me! To please Him in every respect, choose Him above all others, love as He loved ~ that is where it begins.

A discipline to follow and love Him. 

"Across the will of nature

leads on the path of God;

Not where the flesh delighteth

the feet of Jesus trod."

 {A.W.C}

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