Day 12: Discipline

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NLT) So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

We often think that “spiritual disciplines” relate primarily to our minds and hearts, and certainly they should shape our thinking, attitudes and desires. But the Apostle Paul says he disciplined his body so he could run the Christian race with purpose and stay on track with God. In Romans 12:1-2 he also strongly urges believers to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God,” adding that “this is your spiritual act of worship.”

We live and express ourselves in this world through our bodies. They must be brought under the lordship of Jesus through the power of His Holy Spirit—or we will end up “disqualified.” It will do us no good to think about and even pray about worshipping and obeying God if our bodies do not cooperate. True worship involves a total surrender of our bodies and all we are to Him.

Fasting is one means of training our body to submit to God. It teaches our flesh that it cannot always have what it craves, that it is good to defer gratification and to find our ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Through fasting and prayer we live more fully for Him every day—physically, spiritually and emotionally running the race with perseverance. Like an athlete, we are heading toward the goal to win the prize, and our disciplined bodies will carry us there.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for creating us fearfully and wonderfully. You have given us the bodies we live in and now we offer them back to you in surrender. Give us the wisdom, strength and perseverance to fast and discipline our bodies in practical ways so they will cooperate with Your purposes and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.