Discipline for Godliness

Discipline for Godliness
Excerpt taken from Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes

"We Christian women need to get rid of every association, habit, and tendency that impedes godliness. The writer of Hebrews talks about this shedding of hindrances:'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily enables, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.' (Hebrews 12:1)

"What is weighing you down today? Those things will have to go. Once you've removed obstacles and hindrances, your call to training also demands that you direct you energy towards godliness. 'But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified,' writes Paul (1 Cor 9:27).

Do We Have To?
"Why should we Christian women turn our attention to the disciplines that will train us for godliness" First of all, because in today's world and in today's church, disciplined Christian lives are the exception, not the rule. One reason that stands out is fear of legalism.

Legalism is self-centered; discipline is God-centered. The legalistic heart says, "I will do this thing to gain merit with God." The disciplined heart says, "I will do this because I love God and want to please Him." The true heart of discipline is relationship- A relationship with God. John Wesley's words express this relationship beautifully:

O God, fill my soul with so entire a love of The that I may love nothing but for Thy sake and in subordination to Thy love. Give me grace to study Thy knowledge daily that the more I know Thee, the more I may love Thee. Create in me a zealous obedience to all Thy commands, a cheerful patience under all Thy chastisement, and a thankful resignation to all Thy disposals. Let it be the one business of my life to glorify Thee by every word of my tongue, by every work of my hand, by professing Thy truth, and by engaging all men, so far as in me lies, to glorify and love Thee. -John Wesley