Thank you to everyone who lied to me…I mean, thank you to everyone who came last night to surprise celebrate with me for my big THREE ZERO. As I mentioned at the end of the evening, your expressions of appreciation and thankfulness were very humbling. It reminded me of how unworthy I am and what great fruit is grown by God’s grace. It also reminded me of a recurring prayer-thought of mine that may shed a little light on my personal perception of my need. The following is my journal entry from April 1, 2003, and if you desire the future grace to live with a faith of passion and passion for faithfulness, perhaps you will pray something similar:
There has without doubt been a pattern of idleness and sluggishness in my life. This lethargy is found in my lack of physical self-control (diet and exercise), it is found in my lack of aggressive direction of thoughts (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:1-18 where Paul defends his ministry, specifically in verses 3-5 with his “thoughtful” discipline), as well as in my lack of spiritual work (even in such basic Christian pursuits as prayer and Bible reading, let alone the basic pastoral work of prayer, weekly sermon preparation and daily shepherding of others).
I am not sure that real progress has been made or that a growing maturity in these things is obvious to others (cf. 2 Timothy 4:6-16, esp. v. 15). It is this discipline that is required for godliness (v.7). I must labor and strive (v.10), I must “take pains” and “be absorbed” in the work with perseverance (vv. 15-16). And this is of no small consequence! There is an dreadful sense in which the salvation of both myself and those who hear me depends on it!
Father, help me to grasp the consequences – both temporal and eternal, both personal and corporate – that my lack of discipline will bring, and drive me by Your Spirit into an ordered, consistent, regimented soldier (cf. 2 Timothy 2:4).
