It's been an unbelievable season lately. Filled with confusion, at times, but when the clouds clear I've been finding myself closer to God than ever before. It's discipline that's brought me here. I wanted to share the ways that it's helped me, in hopes that you can learn these lessons before the shame and guilt that brought me here. Or perhaps the shame and guilt has brought you here and you're ready for an enlightening.
First, discipline in the area of my time with God. The more stuff that you say "no" to so you can spend time with him is in direct relation to the clarity of His spirit. It's numbing process, which is why it's so hard. It's getting up early. It's turning off the TV. It's saying "no" to the things you enjoy. Something in us tells us that face time with God is not as enjoyable as it really is. One of the things that clarity brings is recognition of the lies that Satan feeds our culture... and us. Another thing I've had to come to grips with with this discipline is that it IS a fight. One that I'll lose without effort. But that's why it's a discipline. How would your life be different if you were simply closer to God? What's keeping you.
The second area of discipline I've been learning in is sexual purity. At Brave Generation a few weeks ago I heard God very clearly press me to find an accountability partner. It had been a whisper for weeks, but now it was time to set the example and pull the trigger. Sexual purity is a taboo subject... especially in church. We avoid what is uncomfortable. And what is uncomfortable is sin: lust, temptation, masturbation, adultery, pornography, looking at the right part of a woman. Now that we're all a bit displaced, let's address the issue - selfishness. It sounds so simple, but left unchecked it will tear your life apart from the inside out. So check it. At Brave Generation I asked someone to pray that the right person to hold me accountable would be revealed and immediately he popped into my head. Over the next 2 days we had some of the most awkward conversations that I've ever had, but I refused to turn away simply out of discomfort.
I hope these help you. As part of my accountability, I started x3watch on my office laptop. It emails my accountability partner anytime I go to a site that's pornographic. It's free and since telling a few students about it they've signed up and asked me to hold them accountable. Check it out. Students want a way out, just like we do.
First, discipline in the area of my time with God. The more stuff that you say "no" to so you can spend time with him is in direct relation to the clarity of His spirit. It's numbing process, which is why it's so hard. It's getting up early. It's turning off the TV. It's saying "no" to the things you enjoy. Something in us tells us that face time with God is not as enjoyable as it really is. One of the things that clarity brings is recognition of the lies that Satan feeds our culture... and us. Another thing I've had to come to grips with with this discipline is that it IS a fight. One that I'll lose without effort. But that's why it's a discipline. How would your life be different if you were simply closer to God? What's keeping you.
The second area of discipline I've been learning in is sexual purity. At Brave Generation a few weeks ago I heard God very clearly press me to find an accountability partner. It had been a whisper for weeks, but now it was time to set the example and pull the trigger. Sexual purity is a taboo subject... especially in church. We avoid what is uncomfortable. And what is uncomfortable is sin: lust, temptation, masturbation, adultery, pornography, looking at the right part of a woman. Now that we're all a bit displaced, let's address the issue - selfishness. It sounds so simple, but left unchecked it will tear your life apart from the inside out. So check it. At Brave Generation I asked someone to pray that the right person to hold me accountable would be revealed and immediately he popped into my head. Over the next 2 days we had some of the most awkward conversations that I've ever had, but I refused to turn away simply out of discomfort.
I hope these help you. As part of my accountability, I started x3watch on my office laptop. It emails my accountability partner anytime I go to a site that's pornographic. It's free and since telling a few students about it they've signed up and asked me to hold them accountable. Check it out. Students want a way out, just like we do.
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