DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: APRIL 18 CHRISTIANITY AND SELF-DISCIPLINE (2) SCRIPTURE: 1 TIM. 4: 7; PROVERBS 23: 1 – 3; ECCL. 7: 9

Yesterday’s devotional showed us what self-discipline is all about, and the necessity for Christians to work on themselves through self-discipline, as it is one of the major ways we can access the associated rewards in heaven after all our toils on the earth. We do not allow ourselves to pass through self-discipline just because we are going to be rewarded in heaven. Christians need self-discipline so that they can become virtuous and command honour in the world. Self-discipline helps us live an improved life on earth. Through self-discipline, we Christians grow above besetting sins, unwanted habits and characters as well as all evil actions.

Today’s devotional focuses on applying self-discipline over immoral life, bad appetites, anger and laziness. There are many other areas we need working on our lives for improvements, but these selected areas are viewed important to this devotional. Apostle Paul admonished Timothy to tell the brothers under him to “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim. 4: 7). Other scriptures put “train” here as “discipline”. Christians can train themselves to live above the above mentioned traits. Generally, sins separate man from God. We must exercise self-discipline to avoid every easily besetting sins. Most importantly, we must exercise self-discipline to flee from sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6: 18). Sexual sin as the Bible says is a sin against our bodies directly.

One of the things that easily conquer any human being is hunger for foods. This goes with strong appetites that many people find difficult to control. *Satan knows how strong foods appeal to the flesh so he always brings foods to test the spiritual strength of human beings. Eve fell into Satan’s trap because of foods; Esau sold his birthright because of foods and, Satan first brought issue of foods to tempt Jesus Christ. Christians are to exercise self-discipline over appetites. We must make sure Kings, Queens and the wealthy individuals do not make us fall by giving us delicacies. Daniel used self-discipline to escape been influenced by the King of Babylon. We are told to put a knife in our throat in order to stop eating food set before at the table of the King (Prov. 23: 1 – 3).

There is need for Christians to work on themselves over excessive anger. Excessive anger destroys reputation and gives one away for foolishness. The Bible advices “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Eccl. 7: 9 NIV). As Christians, we must discipline ourselves against laziness. Righteousness does not guarantee laziness. We must kill slothful spirit in our lives. Lazy or slothful people watch things go bad without attending to them. The Bible says “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of hands the house dropeth through” (Eccl. 10: 18 KJV). Hope this devotional provides you with brief instructions which help you know why you will exercise self-discipline on your life as a Christian.  May your ways be fruitful as you add self-discipline to your Christian virtues as from today.

PRAYERS:

1. Ask God to dress your heart today with garment of self-discipline in every area of your life so as to become a complete child of God without blemishes in Jesus mighty name.
2. Pray for Holy Spirit enablement which will give your power to renew your mind to always think of heavenly things in the name of Jesus Christ.

POSITIVE CONFESSION:

I position myself today under the rain drops of self-discipline to be drenched by power from on high.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch.