Discipline.....a dirty word

I find myself being pressed on all sides to be more disciplined. Disciplined in how I use my time, how I spend my money, my relationships, my work ethic. I have to be honest that it is hard to be disciplined, and I don't really like the fact that there are so many things that I have to work at right now. Discipline often means choosing to do the hard thing, which is never the road that I want to choose. But it is a good process, I am learning so much. God is walking with me every step of the way. I am finding that the more I practice at being disciplined, the easier it gets, and there seems to be more of a freedom that comes. That seems like an oxymoron to me. Discipline to me, in my mind, the first thing that I think of is rules, laws, legalism, these things don't in my mind, lead to freedom. But as I have been walking the path of practicing discipline, I am finding freedom. That is exactly what the bible means, when it says that all things are permissible, but not all are wise, or good. As I grow, and become more of who God wants me to be, there is less legalism, and more freedom, and the things that used to be appealing, are not appealing anymore. The key was allowing my heart to be changed first, and that lead to my actions changing.

Something that I have been thinking about and observing is how in the name of Christianity or religion so many have been hurt. We come at people telling them that Jesus is the only way, we thump them on the head with our bibles, we want them to conform to the image that we have created of what a Christian is, how they act, what they wear, even in the words they speak. In essence we strip them of who they are, we expect them to change overnight, to become a different person, then God will accept them and forgive them. This is so backwards, God already accepts them and loves them as they currently are, right now, and does not expect that they change for Him. But as they walk with Him, grow in relationship with Him, changes will naturally happen. He is about the process of our lives. If we are to be like Jesus, maybe we should start loving people where they are, accepting them in their current situations, the way they talk, the clothes they wear, piercings, tattoos, addictions, pain and sorrow that they live in. Meet them where they are, that is what Jesus would do. That is what He did for me, what He did for you, so why is it so hard for us to this for other people. We want to first judge them, and tell them all the things they are doing wrong, and when they stop those things then, introduce them to Jesus. Our lives should introduce them to Jesus, by loving them, despite everything that we see. God help me to see with Your eyes, and not my human, judging eyes. I want my life to be a reflection of Yours.