Our Coach From Within!
"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should
become disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9: 27
Thank the Lord that self-control is on the list of the fruit of the Spirit
in
Galatians 5:22-23! In other words, we needn’t attempt to develop
self-
discipline on our own. Like an athlete without a coach, it’s very hard
by oneself to
keep oneself in game day shape.
Yes, we must make the effort. Paul spoke of how he disciplined
his
body and brought it into subjection. Apparently he worked hard
to
ward off laziness, gluttony, immoral thoughts and actions,
undue
expressions of temper, and drunkenness.
But his attempts were empowered by the work of the Holy
Spirit
within him, giving him both the desire and the power to do
what
pleases the Lord (Philippians 2:13).
God gives us the desire to do what we should
do,
and then He gives us the power to accomplish
it.
When we walk consciously and constantly with the Lord,
we are coached from within by His Spirit, which is
the
most fulfilling life possible on this
earth.
"We need the rugged strength of Christian
character that can only come from discipline."
V. Raymond Edman
