Discipline... what does that mean to you?

Discipline... can be a noun or a verb...  can be thought of as punishment or as a way of life.

verb (used with object) 10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

noun
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.



I view discipline as a needed system to bring to a state of order... without discipline, you wouldn't be able to hold down a job because you wouldn't have a bed time ot make yourself wake up at a specific time. People that are out of shape, for the most part, because of lack of discipline... they don't want to exercise or eat what they know they should eat... because lots of people don't practice discipline in those areas because they have the mentality that they should be able to eat what they want when they want, they don't exercise because they don't like to... it's too hard... the list could go on. I've heard them all over the years instructing at a gym. None of the reasons surprise me. I know... I've been one of them myself... in the far past.  This is the time of year that there will be more people putting out money for a New Year's Resolution of 'getting in shape'. The Best intentions... but the truth is... without self discipline as a way of life... they will end up as it just being an intention... nothing more.
 There are 141 verses in the Bible about discipline... majority of which refer to punshiment for wrongs.

Proverbs
12:1 The one who loves discipline loves knowledge,  but the one who hates reproof is stupid

Hebrews 12:11
Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful.  But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness  for those trained by it.

Discipline is a needed way of life... it's like a priority of living... it's like putting God first and others second...
discipline is what tells you to get out of bed early and workout because you know it's good for your body...
discipline is saying no to going places that you know God wouldn't want to be (and if He lives in you... and YOU go there... you just made God go there too)...
discipline is being responsible .... it's not all bad. 
Exercising may not be your favorite thing to do, but it's good for your body. And... after you work out... you feel so much better!
Eating healthy may not seem like fun, but... after you give up the junk food and starting feeling better than you ever have because there is truth to the saying "you are what you eat"... discipline pays off.


1 Corinthians 11:29
For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard 1 for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself.


Sometimes life gets away from us and it becomes really hard to be disciplined in all areas of your life. Discipline takes time. Organization. I don't know about you, but I NEED discipline in my life. I feel better, I function better and I'm so much more productive. I've been undisciplined these last years because life and responsibilities became more than one person could handle. I knew I had to put routines aside and basically "put out fires" everyday because I had too 'many irons in the fire'. I hated it! I hated the feeling of being undisciplined. It was the worst couple years of my life. I had been disciplined before, so going backward... was no fun and I deeply missed the discipline my life had.
I've been able to get discipline back in my life these last 6 months and it has been like fresh water to my soul!
It's so hard for someone whom has not been disciplined to understand just what feeling I'm talking about; but... trust me... it's a very good thing!