I didn’t want to sit down to write tonight.
I’m tired.
Between school and work, my brain has been stretched greatly this week.
My back and shoulders are tight.
I honestly just wanted to curl up on the couch and read or watch TV. Instead, here I am writing.
Is it because I feel I have to? Nope. That’s not it. It is my blog, created to be an outlet for the thoughts that swirl around in my mind. While I do, as I have mentioned many times, think better when I tap out my thoughts into coherent written form, I do not feel like I have to write on my blog. Especially when I do have other outlets for writing.
So, why am I writing tonight, even though I did not feel like it?
Because I really do find joy in it. I might not think so at the beginning when I am tired and would rather do something more brainless. But once I get into it, I am always glad I did. Already, less than 200 words in to this post, I feel better.
Spiritual discipline works much the same way.
Any believer in Christ knows that this life is hard work. It takes constant effort to stay on top in the spiritual warfare that rages all around us. Sometimes we just do not want to exert the energy necessary to be obedient. To be disciplined. To be Christ-like. To allow the fruit of the Spirit to shine through us.
And honestly, we have the choice. We can “relax.” We can determine that we just need a break.
But we’ll regret it.
If I had not decided to sit down and write tonight, I would be disappointed tomorrow morning when it was time for a post to go live and there was not one to publish. And it would be that much harder to sit down and write next time.
A choice to “rest” from spiritual discipline has an infinitely more profound effect. Instead of feeling rested, we feel weighed down. Instead of relaxing and being refreshed, we find ourselves depressed and struggling. Instead of making our load lighter, we struggle with obedience that much more.
Until the day we join our Savior in eternity, there will always be something we are neglecting to just buckle down and do. There will always be some area requiring more discipline. And it will always be a challenge to take that step and just do it.
But as soon as we do, we know the joy of obedience and discipline. And, oh, what joy there is to have!
Will it always be easy? No.
Will we really have the energy? Not hardly.
Will the sailing get smoother the farther we go? No, it won’t. There will always be something more challenging around the next corner.
We’ll still be tired. We’ll still want a break. But oh will we have the joy!
What discipline can you exercise today? Yes, today, at the end of the week when you’re tired and just don’t want to do anything. It is worth it! Will you choose to buckle down and do it?
Not Quite Ordinary 