When the word discipline popped into my head as I prayed for guidance for 2020, I looked to the Bible for clarification. Here’s one of the first verses I found:
1 Timothy 4:7 (AMP)
Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness
[keeping yourself spiritually fit].
God neatly tied last year’s one-word, fit, to this year’s potential word, discipline. Guess that nails it. 2020 is my year to discipline myself for the purpose of godliness.
“He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is.”
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
Thank you, Rev. Tozer, for this reminder to look for the smile behind our discipline.
I’m one of those folks who select one word for the new year. I find it more motivating than a multitude of New Year’s resolutions. My 2019 word was fit as in “fit for service in the kingdom of God.” I lost weight and exercised more–but fit was more about soul than body.
For 2020, discipline dances in my head. What do you think?
There are spiritual disciplines (such as silence, Sabbath-keeping, study, fasting, service). Yep, I could use more disciplines in my life.
There’s self-discipline (self-control). Check. More would be better.
And there’s God’s discipline. Not my decision, really.
Sexual abuse in the church makes news, hurtful news. People use their positions of honor and power for personal pleasure. Brothers and sisters, this should not be.
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)
Flee from sexual immorality.
Our enemy looks for every opportunity to give Christ a bad name, to hinder ministry and hurt believers. Let us take every opportunity to pray for purity, unity and safety:
Mighty God, make our churches safe spaces for those who are vulnerable. Lead our leaders “not into temptation;” teach them to flee from all immorality. Deliver us from the evil of sexual abuse, in our churches, in our communities, in our country, in Jesus’ name.
The word of the Lord:
Isaiah 43:18-29 (NIV)
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
A new day. A new week. A new year. Whatever time the Lord gives you, live it in simple faith!
Advent is over.
Christmas has passed.
How does that feel?
Thank God.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning.
“O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.”
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Emily E. S. Elliott (1864)
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
Walk in the light!
“Stir our hearts, we beseech you, to prepare ourselves to receive your Son. When he comes and knocks, may he find us not sleeping in sin, but awake to righteousness, ceaselessly rejoicing in his love. May our hearts and minds be so purified, that we may be ready to receive his promise of eternal life.”
The Gelasian Sacramentary (500)
Gelasius became pope in 492. This sacramentary is the oldest prayer book of the Western Church.
Christmas chaos and clamor getting you down?
It’s been more than 400 years, and Martin Luther’s words still whisper through the noise.
“Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.”
Martin Luther (1585)
Trans by Catherine Winkworth (1855)
