Self-discipline | Paula Wiseman

I have a particular time set aside to write my blog posts (in the morning after running, showering and studying). If something comes up that interferes with that (like bloodwork at 7:15), I have a hard time fitting it in. (And I realize at 4:30, I never wrote the post.)

Bible study is the same way. I have a time set aside to study. But it's not the same time every day.
Monday through Friday it's 6:30-ish (-Ish because my run doesn't always take the same amount of time, and occasionally I take a day off.)
Saturday, it's morning-ish. I sleep in a little on Saturday.
On Sunday, it's afternoon-ish (after church, lunch and a nap J )
Not planned down to the minute, but a regular, predictable, habitual study time.

Scheduling your study-
Ensures it will get done
Cements it as a priority
Builds a habit with incredible benefits

The schedule has to fit you
Studying at night would never work for me. Too many distractions. I'm tired. Our evenings don't follow a routine. But it may just your thing.
Long stretches don't work for me either. About twenty or thirty minutes is my maximum. However, some folks prefer a once a week marathon session.
It's always flexible. Move your study time until you find a good time slot.

When is your scheduled study time?

: Image via Wikipedia

We are most of the way through our week of Bible school, and I have to say, it has been the least stressful VBS I can remember since I was a kid. (Not counting the VBS my brother and I came down with the chickenpox.) If you’ve prayed for me, for us during this week, thank you. God has answered in a tremendous way.

I know I’m supposed to exercise, but I don’t like it. I don’t like being sweaty. I don’t like that gasping for my next breath and I really don’t like being sore the next day. BUT… I like those really cool high-tech, moisture wicking shirts, and I love good running shoes. So I bought three of those shirts and thus obligated myself. Sigh. Last week, I started getting up early and interval training. (I call it that because I can’t run very far yet. I run til I think I might die, then I walk until I can breathe again. Rinse Repeat.)

My husband, who is a real runner, is extremely encouraging (and wise ). My goals for running are set pretty low. I just want to make it around the park, maybe twice (around a mile and a half). For me, it’s less about the fitness and more about self-discipline- the getting up and doing it part. Sure, I’d like to drop some weight, and get all those other benefits that come with exercise, but self-discipline takes practice. If I can do it here, exercising, it will be easier the next time I try it in some other area of my life. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul talks about self-discipline in relation to effective, credible ministry. Sadly, we’ve seen ministries destroyed when individuals couldn’t practice self-discipline.

The physical life often reflects the spiritual life. Jesus healed people physically as proof of His ability to heal spiritually. My ultimate goal is to translate some practiced physical self-discipline to spiritual discipline. Maybe God is honoring that desire with a less stressful VBS. Even so, I’ll be up… oh about 5:30 in the morning. I can’t quit now. Besides, I bought the shirts.

STT: Schedule It

Connecting Physical and Spiritual Discipline