Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Discipline

The Lord just spoke to me about discipline today. I received my exam results a week ago, were pretty alright I guess, except for F&B and POM. I got a grade C for both subjects and that pulled my overall GPA down. Ok to be honest, I’m not satisfied with the results.

Well I could have come up with many lousy excuses such as:
a) The 2 papers were on the same day. I did NOT enough time to study as well as enough sleep.
b) They were both heavy topics. A lot of content to memorise and SO I blanked out
c) I was SO PRESSURED by the people who left early, so I was forced to leave the room too out of my OWN WILL.

In my own human nature, this was some of the many lousy excuses I would have come up with. But God is a God who always teaches us a lesson out of all this, so I took time to reflect on what God was trying to teach me. The answer He gave was DISCIPLINE.

I had a meaningful chat with my aunt this afternoon in her house. It was through this conversation that God spoke to me about discipline.
The conversation began with her asking me how I did for my exams. When I had given her my results, she asked whether I could have done better. In quick fashion, I said “yes, I could have BUT, the 2 papers were on the same day. I did NOT enough time to study as well as enough sleep. They were both heavy topics. A lot of content to memorise and SO I blanked out. I was SO PRESSURED by the people who left early, so I was forced to leave the room too out of my OWN WILL.”
Well, that wasn’t really smart of me. After saying all that, I felt as if I have given some of the model excuses one would give.

My aunt being the knowledgeable one helped me to understand a few things.
1) Not giving yourself enough rest will definitely affect your performance in the exams.
2) As we go higher up in education, the going gets tough especially when you reach University.
3) By succumbing to peer pressure, this shows how weak and vulnerable we can be when we are not alert. Therefore, think before you act. I was reminded of how King Herod succumbed to peer pressure and ordered John's execution.

So what is God saying to me then?
1) God reminds me that “Your body is My temple, therefore treat it with care and honour Me with your body. Be disciplined.”
2) God says, “I’m preparing you for the challenges ahead, be disciplined.”
3) God blessed me with the verse Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

Besides that, it is always 100% man, 100% God. We have to put in our 100% effort first before God can put His 100%.
In all, God wants us to be disciplined, He does not want us to be fools who despises wisdom and discipline.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1

I have been a fool but God has changed all that. No more “buts” or doubts for me for I put my faith in the One who helps me through it all. We bless Your holy name.

Labels: Devotion