SELF-DENIAL: GOD'S PLAN FOR CHANGE

For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character.But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good, and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do.Next, learn to put aside your own desires so that you will become patient and godly, gladly letting God have his way with you.This will make possible the next step, which is for you to enjoy other people and to like them, and finally you will grow to love them deeply.The more you go on in this way, the more you will grow strong spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus Christ.But anyone who fails to go after these additions to faith is blind indeed, or at least very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered him from the old life of sin so that now he can live a strong, good life for the Lord.So, dear brothers, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen, and then you will never stumble or fall away.And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-11 TLB

DISCIPLINE VS. MOTIVATION

Motivation
It's like the current of a river carrying me along its course. I just have to navigate around the obstacles along the way, while heading to my destination. The "push" that drives me to accomplish my goals.   

Self-Discipline
It's like being in a river while having the resolve to swim against the current while trying to navigate to my destination. The "resolve" to work against the "push" to get it done!

PRIORITIZING 101

I want to share an easy to understand, but difficult-to-implement concept that is guaranteed to change how, and even when, you conduct your daily activities. 

"Fit my day into my time and attention with the Father, not trying to fit Father into my day"

I wake up with every intention of making room for Father's agenda to rule the day, but all too often life imposes its demands on the day, and I end up giving in to these demands. 

By placing my time and attention on my relationship with Father God, and my fellowship with Jesus throughout the day, I actually get the sense that I have spent my day with purpose, and am honestly content with its outcome.

This investment in our spiritual and mental health doesn't come easy.

The "flesh" - our old corrupt nature without Christ - resists the execution of this concept. So get ready for a fierce bare-knuckle fight to the death.

Our flesh is conditioned to be responsive to the things that are "urgent", not the things that are "important"; the easy, not the difficult; the immediately gratifying, not things that requires self-denial. 

Fitting the day into our time with Father is going to take some discipline on your part. We're going to have to get "medieval" with the flesh, and resolve in ourselves that we refuse to squander another day running on that "hamster wheel"- doing a whole lot of running, but going absolutely nowhere. Never again being satisfied with accomplishing the frivolous, superficial and vain.

The  flesh and the spirit - by feeding one, we starve the other. By doing exactly what the flesh does not want (that is to put the things of God - the important things- first), we deprive it of it's life controlling power.

The flesh is afraid that we will start thinking, acting and talking like our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

It will die, its control broken! Hallelujah!!

Matthew 6:33 MSG
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.