I once played for a branch of the Seattle Girls’ Choir, accompanying an amazing group of six- to nine-year-old girls. The director was a Russian lady who greatly valued discipline. These little girls were just like any little girls - giggly, active, distracted - but during choir practice, they were more disciplined by far than any of the adult church choirs of which I’ve been a part. Rehearsals were strict. And I mean strict. Anything out of line, and the director would start scolding the girls loudly in Russian. They loved singing though, and had the most amazing, angelic voices. Discipline produced outstanding results.
Discipline produces results in our Christian development as well. Just as we can’t expect to play a concerto solo after a few weeks of practice, we shouldn’t expect to be perfect Christians without any disciplined work either. Of course, we can’t ever be perfect here on Earth, but we should strive toward perfection daily.
Strict training, whether using a metronome to develop musical skills, exercising our bodies to run a marathon, or pursuing Christian beliefs, produces results. But how do we train ourselves to pursue Christian beliefs? What kind of discipline and training can be used for spiritual development? The foundational activities from the last chapter are a start - reading the Bible, praying, worshiping with others. Discipline adds a schedule to those activities. Read your Bible every day, whether you’re tired or upset or angry or just hungry. Pray at a specific time of day, whether you feel God is listening or not. Go to church every Sunday, whether it’s raining outside or not. Discipline involves doing things when you don’t want to.
Let me say that again. Discipline involves doing things when you don’t want to!
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:16-17