It’s that time of year when millions of people make New Year’s resolutions or set goals for the upcoming year. God knew human beings would benefit from fresh starts and that’s why our calendar is full of them. But as we think about what we’d like to do differently in the New Year, it’s important to think about the concept of self-discipline in the life of the believer. After all, how many times have you set a New Year’s goal and abandoned it before spring?
Each year, millions of people are enticed by programs that promise maximum results with minimal effort. Whether it’s a get-rich-quick scheme, the promise of rapid weight loss, or a workout plan that promises six-pack abs in thirty days, shortcuts are tempting. The problem is—there are no shortcuts—it is about relying on self-discipline to get the work done. And according to Scripture, every believer is resourced with self-discipline (some translations say self-control), but we need to constantly be mindful of it if we are going to tap into what we already possess. The apostle Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy and said:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
The truth is, if we want a good outcome in any sphere of life, we must put in the effort. But to do so, we need to rely on self-control to follow through. Let me give you a few examples:
- Want to have a close relationship with God? You’ll need to invest time participating in spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, and worship.
- Want to be the best in your profession? You’ll need to be the first to your workspace in the morning and the last one to leave at night.
- Want to write a book? You’ll need to sit down every day and write until you reach your word count goal. You’ll need to write, edit, rewrite, and polish your manuscript until it shines.
- Want to get in the best shape of your life? You’ll need to eat a healthy diet over a long period of time and exercise most days of the week.
The bottom line is, there are no shortcuts. But as we approach our tasks, it’s wise to be mindful that as believers, we have self-control instilled in us because the Holy Spirit has given us a spirit of self-control—it’s simply our job to approach tasks in faith knowing we have what it takes to accomplish them. Make no mistake—our effort will be required. We’ll have to show up on the days we don’t feel like it. And we’ll have to press on when we feel like quitting. Only you can know if you are giving your best effort. If you aren’t, there’s good reason to start.
2 Responses
Hi Susan, your absolutely correct, there are no short cuts to successful new year resolutions. It takes hard work and determination to succeed, for example in trying to quit smoking or giving up alcohol and there’s no point in lulling yourself into a false sense of security by keeping an emergency packet of cigarettes in the top of your wardrobe, or a small bottle of spirits in the press. Trying to cut pornography out of your life by keeping one or two dvd’s or by telling yourself you’ll only watch it in emergency times. No all these vices must be pulled out by the root and stopped dead by the power of prayer to our Lord Jesus and by a whole hearted belief that the holy Spirit is walking through this difficult and strenuous time alongside us. Our heavenly father knows our weaknesses and is more than willing to help us through our difficulties by giving us Holy scripture, prayer and specific guidance throughout the teachings of the Lord Jesus. So take comfort and solace in what you may be trying to achieve, we are not standing alone in our our quest for righteous living. Amen.
Absolutely, Ronnie. Thanks for sharing your insight and wisdom. Thanks for reading and Happy New Year to you!