BLob

Self-Discipline?

I’m indebted to CKROBOTH for reminding me of this particular verse….

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:5)

EVERY thought !!!

Impossible? Only if you let yourself think it to be so.

Easy? Most definitely not!

Necessary? Absolutely, is what i truly believe.

How? When? By making it my constant habit as soon as possible.

His Life in place of Mine.

15 comments

  2. You just hit on my motto for life. I love the NAS version…I would be in an institution if it weren’t for the truth of these words. No exaggeration.

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ ~2Corinthians 10:3-5

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  7. There is at least one whole chapter devoted to this verse in Every Man’s Battle. I believe learning that we actually can (in Christ) fight the battle in our own minds is a very freeing truth.

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  8. What I always remember is that there is know way for me to do this without Christ. Learning His word gives me the ammo to capture thoughts and move them out of my head.

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  10. Love, developing “self-discipline” was my first step in changing from an emotionally disturbed young man into a functioning member of society. The discipline to accept that I had to endure whatever pain, hardship, life throws my way. Putting one foot in front of the other and simply persevering until I reach my goal, whatever that is. I can’t claim to be completely successful, but I have won more times than I have lost.

    The self discipline you are speaking of seems in another context(?). My perception is that you are striving(?) to follow God’s guidance every day, in every thought. Living your life by God’s word is your goal? I am off base?

    I can see that putting complete faith in God’s, or anyone’s, guidance does require self-discipline, because sometimes it may seem that this guidance is too difficult(?) to achieve. Yet you need to follow it even if it brings you pain.

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  12. Mr. Love:
    I’ve never really understood the big words of this verse…. maybe if i learn greek i could get it.
    but it’s such a huge concept for me. i just strive to have clean thoughts. have a clean inside, not be whitewashed… but sincerely clean inside & out.
    that’s the only way i can think of to make sure my thoughts are humbled and holy.

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  13. Ed – atheist or believer (actually that should be believer in things other than God-centred ones or believer in God since those are the only two possible choices we humans have in life) both profit from mental discipline.

    WE ALL can simply achive more in life through discipline and control over our own thoughts than if we don’t ever take sufficient time to add some degree of self-control.

    You are right though this post was referring to something more than this. It expressed my desire to follow St Paul’s advice that any claiming to be In Christ are to become masters over their thoughts so that every single thought they ever have in life is to be under our specific conscious control ( until it becomes our natural habit) and make certain that each thought is ‘obedient’ to Christ – ie. to be in total alignment with God’s Will.

    To do that which we believe is ‘correct’ and of our own free-will – but of a purposeful will that is in total agreement with that of God for us and not a purely self-ish will that may sometimes be disobedient to Him and therefore to the greater good of our self, and all other humans.

    To eliminate wasteful and/or harmful thoughts completely.

    That is a world-changing desire.

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  14. Hi Miss M! šŸ™‚

    Big words aside i think Paul simply said those who seek to be in Christ first must learn how to gain mastery over the mental self so that we only ever ‘allow’ or entertain a thought in our head that is in alignment with His Will – we don’t give our mind over to idle or useless thought (or selfish modes of thinking to our own benefit over the greater benefit of all) so that at all times we are ‘close’ to (IN) Him.

    Many who claim to be Christian may be doing charitable works or ‘good’ acts and not intentionally ‘sinning’ but if they have negative selfish thoughts ( like resentment) while doing so they are not IN Christ – we are to LOVE what we do and not be of two minds over it.

    We are to master our thought and keep our minds in alignment with our hearts – our desire and our love if we are to be as Christ. – True Christians.

    It is not at all an easy task but if we don’t want to be one of the ones Christ says on His Return to – “Be Gone – I never knew you” we are to do what it takes to achieve or make whatever progress we are currently able to do towards that goal.

    As i see it anyway šŸ™‚

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  15. I LOVE that verse in that translation. That’s always such a challenging thing to take thoughts captive.

    Thanks for the great reminder.

    First time visitor here to your blog. I enjoyed snooping around. I’m going to have to come back and poke around some more! šŸ™‚

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