Self Discipline, and the Spiritual path
By emptychair
@innertalks (23740)
Australia
September 12, 2023 9:56pm CST
Self Discipline on the spiritual path, ensures that our character is not further blackened by us following our wanton ways, and giving in to things like anger, lust, pride, and greed, and other forms of self-indulgence.
We keep our character more white, by disciplining ourselves to not allow black stains to come into our lives, and influence, and discolour our judgements.
Our body is our vehicle for us to ride on in this life, and so we should ensure that it obeys us, and does not try to drive off on its own.
Our body, like a wild horse, has its own nature, and will naturally follow it, unless we rein it in as its master.
Our body is the house of our soul, as we live from it, in this life.
We should not allow our desires, and our minds, to be thieves in our own house, stealing us away from our souls.
We must build knowledge of truth, and gain wisdom in its application, in our living of our lives.
We can only apply discipline to our own lives, as disciplining others never works, seamlessly so.
In the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, we find this verse about discipline:
“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”
Proverbs, chapter 12, verse 1.
And so, we can only live a full life of love, by our disciplining ourselves, and correcting our negative thoughts, tendencies, and inclinations, to stray from the guidance of God.
We need to allow ourselves to be disciplined by the truth.
The real truth always puts us right in love, so we follow love, not our own prideful ways instead.
Self-discipline is the right arm of truth, and love is its left arm; keep both arms toned, to live a full spiritual life.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
7 people like this
7 responses
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
13 Sep 23
Thanks. Self-discipline is mentioned a few times in the Christian Bible.
Here is another place.
2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7.
"For God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power, and love, and self-discipline."
Self-discipline is an aspect of love in that when you initially feel fear, the self-discipline to remember that that love is still there, and which is even underlying all else, including the fear, is sorely needed at that time.
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
13 Sep 23
@innertalks Great, wrote it down on my to do list for tomorrow.
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
13 Sep 23
We have authority, but sometimes our bodies fail us sadly.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
14 Sep 23
@innertalks Yes and don't pull our ham strings.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
That is where self-discipline should come in.
We need to discipline ourselves to go on, even when we feel like giving in, or giving up.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
@RebeccasFarm You are right, sometimes common sense should be applied, and self-discipline is inappropriate, as it is draconian, and we should take time to sit down, and to rest our overworked hamstrings, so they can heal, and work for us better, the next day.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
13 Sep 23
Yes, I agree.
Wanton living is a recipe for disaster of all types to come into your life. Excess in anything brings trouble too.
Self-discipline certainly improves one's life, in many ways.
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Sep 23
I can only agree in part. The Bible says we belong to God, and He is at work in us. We do His will, not our own.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
(KJV)
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Sep 23
@innertalks I agree. Without discipline, you couldn't do God's will.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
@just4him Yes, self-control, self-discipline, help to ensure that we do not give into the temptations, and excesses of life, and put the serving of God first in our lives.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
13 Sep 23
That's true. Self discipline is the essence of life. With ethics in life you can guide your children towards a better life.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
@aninditasen Yes, our conscience can guide us, but we need to take notice of it, and not ignore its often soft voice in the background.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
Yes, I agree.
Without self-discipline, we will give in to our animal-like drives, and emotions, and not follow the true direction of truth in our lives, in our living of that life for God.
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
14 Sep 23
@innertalks God has given us a life and a conscience too. To lead a good life we have to listen to our conscience.
2 people like this
@Beestring (15372)
• Hong Kong
13 Sep 23
Indeed, self-discipline and love enable us to live a full spiritual life.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
13 Sep 23
Yes, I think love and self-discipline are connected too, as we need to be self-disciplined to love in the right way, and love not selfishly so, too, and when we love rightly, we are being self-disciplined in following the truth of love, and abiding by its one great commandment to love God, and our neighbour, as much as we can do so too.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
13 Sep 23
Self-discipline keeps us focused on attaining our targets, but they should be honorable too.
Once we cultivate self-discipline and make it a habit, our life becomes smooth sailing.
We are then impervious to the vicissitudes of daily life.
However, there are many distractions to trip us.
We need to take notice of them but step away guided by our inner knowing as to what is the truth that is worth pursuing.
A rolling stone gathers no moss - is worth remembering.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
You make a good point there, siva.
I guess that self-discipline can also be used by bad eggs to accomplish bad things, but I would rather think that the right kind of self-discipline involves our soul correcting our actions, through our conscience, or gut feeling connection to it, and so all self-discipline should be good self-discipline then, beneficial to us, and to our living of our lives.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23740)
• Australia
14 Sep 23
@Shiva49 Yes, everything can be perverted and turned around to achieve wrong goals, and bad results.
Everything except for love, that is, when it remains the highest form of love, unconditional love, and loving others as God loves them too.
@Shiva49 (28380)
• Singapore
14 Sep 23
@innertalks Thanks Steve, I recall the film The Day of the Jackal.
Edward Fox, who played the Jackal, was meticulous and highly self-disciplined, but the target escaped by the skin of his teeth.
1 person likes this
