“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Cor. 9: 25-26

I wholeheartedly embrace the value of spiritual disciplines. I know that practicing spiritual disciplines like Bible Study, prayer, fasting, meditation, solitude and the like are valuable for my soul and I make every effort to practice them regularly. I know that practicing health disciplines like a balanced diet, adequate rest and exercise are beneficial for my life. I have learned the value of disciplining myself in regards to spending, saving and staying out of debt as much as possible. Some of these things are easier for me to do than others. When I fall out of the habits of practicing what I know is good for me, I suffer the consequences.

I don’t have the luxury of eating what I want, whenever I want with no impact on my weight or health. I don’t have a photographic memory that allows me to memorize and recall Scriptures at the drop of a dime. I don’t have so much money that I can spend at will and not think about my bills. I am not so spiritual that I can pray every now and again and still have perfect peace. On the contrary, I must constantly go about the “boring” business of keeping track of these and other things in my life to maintain my sanity and well-being.

I am not a famous performer, an athletic star or a glamorous model, but I do have a very strong sense of who I am and what my purpose in life is. When I am fulfilling that purpose, there is a sense of exhilaration and joy that I believe matches that of any performer or star. The truth is that musicians, athletes, actors, writers, innovators, all people who achieve any level of mastery in their fields have to go through years of preparation and discipline. It’s hard work but the rewards are worth it.

I began this year feeling like I am on the cusp of meeting goals that I have set for myself, launching off into projects that have been on the back burner of life and stepping even closer to living the life of purpose God has given me. Yet the Spirit has been compelling me to lean in on tracking spiritual, mental, physical and emotional areas of my life as an exercise of discipline. I do not necessarily like it. But I recognize, like Paul, that living a life of purpose requires living life on purpose. Left to my own devices, I may be lazy, distracted or prone to procrastination. I need the discipline to stay focused and on track towards accomplishing my goals and fulfilling my purpose. The point that Paul is driving home is that because he preached the Gospel, he had to live the life he preached, which meant he had to walk the talk so as to not bring any discredit to what he preached. And so it is for all Christians and so it is for me.

I am going through a season of discipline, a season of monitoring and holding myself accountable to do everything necessary for my body, mind and soul. I believe there will be a very real and tangible reward for this season of self-discipline. More importantly, the ultimate reward is that when I breathe my last breath, I will have the reward of heaven and I will not be a castaway.