Self-Discipline Is the Gateway to Christian Maturity

[Redeemed]

The discipline every born-again Christian must learn is how to recognize when he is reanimating an old fallen practice, so as to haul it restfully back to the cross again. We are crucifying anew, daily, the childish ways of thinking and feeling, which our carnal nature would use to regain the throne of our life. For this reason St. Paul wrote, “I die daily” in 1 Cor. 15:31

We are created in the image of God. God is free. We have free will and a life of our own. The same is true of whatever we create within our own nature.

Our self has a life of its own. Our emotions have a life of their own. So too our carnal mind has a life of its own. Neither our feelings nor our thoughts want to die or to let go of their control of us. Our carnal mind refuses to lie down and quit its rule over us just because we have invited the Holy Spirit to take charge of us.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” Romans 8:6–7


Notice that this verse clearly says that our minds do have a life of their own—a life involving will, desire, and intention. The carnal mind is hostile and does not submit. And remember, that chapter from Romans was addressed to born-again Christians!

 

[Redeemed]

That old saying, “The child shall be the father of the man,” means to me that our spirit is to rule our mind. When the Holy Spirit enters, He intends to rule our spirit. Through our spirit, the Holy Spirit intends to govern our mind, and by our renewed mind, to corral and direct our passions.

That is God’s plan, His order for our interior being. But from our infancy, we have installed our conscious, carnal mind in control of our flesh to rationalize our desires, protect our feelings, think our thoughts, and plan our steps.

The scriptures tell us, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” Prov. 16:9

Our mind relishes its importance and does not readily succumb to its death and retirement from control.

It is our lack of trust in God that our carnal mind uses to retain its throne. We are afraid if we let go, the Holy Spirit won’t really take charge, and we will run amok and embarrass ourselves!