Change in direction

Have you ever been hit with the realisation that your life needs a change of direction?  I'm sure most of us have.  It may be something small or something huge, but a change is needed none the less.  Making the changes that are necessary to shift direction are hard, and requires self-discipline, or self-control…ugh.  

Self-discipline, what a horrible two words, they mean doing what is not easy, doing what is needed, not what is wanted.  Self-discipline is not fun, it is hard, or seems hard.   

The interesting thing about self-discipline is that unlike the way it sounds it does not come from "self."  It is from the Holy Spirit.  It is one of the attributes of the fruit of the Spirit.  

Galatians 5:22-23 

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

I have beat myself up for struggling with self-discipline and for all the things I am not disciplined. I should have realised self-control is a result of being centred in God, allowing His Spirit to fill me.  I have focused on my own efforts to be disciplined and failed, and the few times I have succeed I congratulated myself instead of praising God. 

So what?  It means I must seek God and his in filling everyday, asking for self-discipline, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness.  That His spirit will bear fruit in my life.  

Almighty God, draw me to you each day with a yearning to know you and seek you.  Amen

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have

loved you with and everlasting love; I have drawn you 

with unfailing kindness.