How to be disciplined in the Christian walk

by Toyosi Adegunle

Happy New Month! May the month of March bring to you so many blessings that your Barnhouse will be unable to contain it all.🎉 Amen? 

Let me gist you a little. In 2013, I got admitted into the University and in less than 5 weeks of resumption, for anyone familiar with Redeemed Christian Fellowship (RCF) terminologies, I joined the believers’ class and immediately started my workers-in-training. This process took about 2-3 months to complete before I officially became a worker. It was rigorous, uncomfortable, and hard in every sense. A lot of people opted out because it was hard, it wasn't convenient, and many other reasons. 

I’ve always believed that anything you put your heart to with discipline, always comes out better. Discipline has a huge role to play in the process of learning the way and word of God, living the true Christian lifestyle, and generally, your life as a believer. 

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭9:27‬ (‭NKJV‬‬) “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

There are things that you can't skip, or maneuver yourself out of because “saved by grace” - Grace is given to enable us to live a godly life. It doesn't excuse indiscipline or licentiousness but pushes you to do more for God's kingdom. Things like staying in the word, reading, and learning; praying consistently, speaking the word to people around you, going through the ‘rigorous’ onboarding/training process of becoming a service team member at your local church and more. 

Our journey as believers involves a lot of processes that require discipline and intentionality, else you may not learn what you are supposed to learn. There are a host of things to put under subjection while learning and doing. The purpose of learning is doing - We study the scripture to apply in our daily living, you learn the truth to do and be the truth. 

In my local church, I'm required to go through 5 phases/classes of training as a service team member. Due to the pandemic, it had to be virtual and we did classes on WhatsApp. I am currently taking the first class for the third time because I gave so many excuses the first two times and I wasn't disciplined about the times, assignments and many other activities involved. This experience has taught me that wanting and desiring something is not enough, but putting your heart into it with discipline and intentionality does it all. Asking the Holy Spirit for help also plays a very good part in disciplining yourself. 

Nothing comes easy, you have to put in some effort. God might be taking you through a process that seems hard and rigorous for you right now, but be disciplined in learning and doing. If you have to pray for 30 minutes daily, read scripture daily to learn from God and grow spiritually, no matter how hard, put your body under subjection and do what you have to do. Pray for strength, grace and help to do the needful, and God surely will send help your way and help you overcome hindrances. 

Jesus said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬). Understandably, you want to grow spiritually, but it takes more than wanting and desiring:

● Acknowledge your weaknesses and hindrances at the moment 

● Ask for help, be observant and prayerful.

● Know that you may not always have it easy, but understand that it is what you do.

● Be open-minded, speak to the Holy Spirit, speak to friends in faith that can give you the necessary support through your joining.  

Share your experience with us! Do you remember a time you were conscious and deliberate about learning and doing? How did it go?