this could really be a good life

good morning, friends!

after a lot of denial, last night i finally faced that fact that my life has been lacking discipline/self-control. and by "my life" i mean everything from when i wake up in the morning to my quiet times. i started reflecting on all the ways i was "out of control," and here's what i found:

1. i stay up way too late doing nothing.
2. i oversleep almost every morning, because of #1.
3. i don't have my quiet time regularly.
4. i don't run regularly.
5. i don't eat organic, healthy food like i used to.
6. i say whatever i want - absolutely no censor.
7. i spend money irrationally.

i know that some of these are of a lesser evil than others, but the point is that i am not disciplined and not self-controlled. i searched the word for a little while last night, trying to see what the lord wanted to teach me about being disciplined (and by discipline i mean dilligent, not like correction, although that's an interesting point i'll get to later). these are some of the passages i found:

"he will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly."
proverbs 5:23

"for god did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline."
2 timothy 1:7

"for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."
2 peter 1:5-7

what do i learn from these verses?

1. lack of discipline is fatal.
2. being out of control is not of god; he didn't make me this way, so i can't use the excuse, "this is just how i am." nope. he gave me his spirit and his power to be self-disciplined. good try, though, smash.
3. self-control is necessary. when i press on and continue to be disciplined, i become a little more like jesus, and in turn, love and treat people like jesus did.

after i realized that i was basically the opposite of what i should be, my heart was a little encouraged when realized that discipline is hard - it's not just me thinking that. it is work. it does require effort. but i am capable. here are my new goals:

1. go to bed BEFORE midnight every night.
2. wake up at 6:45 everymorning.
3. run for 20 minutes before work.
4. read at least a verse of scripture before i even start getting ready for work.
5. take huck to the dog park.
6. run for 20 minutes after work.
7. have a legit quiet time at least 4 times a week.
8. eat healthy, organic food and don't be tempted by friends who don't eat the same way i do.
9. filter my mouth. good grief, this will be the hardest to accomplish.
10. spend my free time being productive.

so far this morning i've run 20 minutes, read two chapters of scripture (psalm 14 and proverbs 14), and eaten extremely healthy. but it's only 10:00 in the morning. discipline is made one decision at a time, though.

have a happy wednesday!