What does it mean to have well disciplined life? Is self-control important in one’s life? How 40-day preparation can help to overcome bad behaviors? Why 40-day discipline is important in a person’s life? How a disciplined mind behaves?
Discipline, which is a noun and verb, and according to the Webster’s dictionary it means “training expected to produce a specific type or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.” As per the same dictionary, the root of “discipline” comes from “discipulus,” the Latin word for “pupil.”
This indicates that the discipline is not possessed characteristic at birth or inborn attribute, but to be developed through education and training. None of the characteristics occurs by genetics or accident, rather be developed through preparation, education, training, and practice. As a result, discipline is the learned skill that requires actions to be cultivated.
It is very interesting to note that human nature strives to improve in life; therefore, most of us commit to the goal at the beginning of the New Year. For the most part, the New Year decision, in which a person is determined to change undesired bad habits and behavior. But how many will achieve the goal? Studies have shown that only 8% accomplish their New Year’s resolutions. As per the US News & World Report, 80 percent of resolutions fail within the first six weeks of the year.
Why resolutions do not work? Is it lack of determination, or will? Is discipline important in one’s life to achieve goals? After careful studies, observations, and self-evaluation on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that in order to achieve ultimate goal and success in life it requires “self-discipline, which is self-control.” I think in order to maintain goals in life one must stay disciplined. I noticed that a disciplined person has self-control.
The purpose of self-control is to correct bad behaviors, and motivate oneself and do what is right. Self-control is hard, but helps to focus on goals and leads to self-confidence, esteem, and consequently to happiness and satisfaction. I observed that a disciplined person’s mind can achieve a set of goal in spite of obstacles.
On the other hand, lack of discipline or self-control may lead to all kinds of problems in one’s life. As we know that self-discipline not only helps to achieve goals and success in a person’s life but it also teaches one to be humble, responsible and respectful as long as he or she lives in this world.
As indicated above that the root of word “discipline” is from Latin meaning “pupil,” a student under the supervision of a teacher, which also provided a source of the word “disciple,” a follower of Jesus Christ. There is no better day to reflect on this topic than today, which is “Ash Wednesday.” I think the beginning of the lent season is a good time to train, develop and practice self-control. A 40-day preparation and meditation under the supervision of the greatest teacher Jesus Christ provide a good education on discipline. Moreover, 40 days determined self-control training and practice leading to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is better-committed resolution than the New Year Day failed ones.
A 40-day discipline is important because it reflects on one’s purpose in life. This should be an ultimate achievement goal in everyone’s life, which is receiving the “Eternal life! How can we achieve this goal without personally knowing and believing the person who provides and fulfills our purpose in life? Who has the authority to provide us the “everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV)?” Where can we find this information and education other than the Word of God from the “Holy Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
Regarding the “discipline,” and “self-control,” the Holy Bible (Scriptures) reminds us that, “No discipline seems pleasant at time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have trained by it (Heb. 12:11 NIV).” As stated in the Scriptures that the “Holy Spirit” helps us in developing the self-control habit. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7 NIV).” It is clearly stated in the Scriptures that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23 NKJV).”
As per the Scriptures, without discipline, there is no life. “For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly (Prov. 5:23 NIV).” “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored (Prov. 13:18 NIV).”
Why 40-day discipline is important? The following are a few main reasons for the significance of number 40 in the Holy Bible:
- The Great Flood: God said to Noah “For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made. (Gen. 7:4 NKJV);” “And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights (Gen. 7:12 NKJV);”
- Abraham intercedes for Sodom: God said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty (Gen. 18:28 NKJV);”
- Bread from heaven: “The children of Israel ate manna forty years until they came to an inhabited land; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan (Ex. 16:35 NKJV)”;
- Moses on the mountain with God: “So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights (Ex.24:18 NKJV);”
- Death sentence on the rebels: God spoke to Moses and Aaron “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection (Num.14:34 NKJV);”
- Caleb inherits Hebron: “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart (Jos. 14:7 NKJV);”
- Death of Eli: “When he made mention of the ark of God that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years (1 Sam. 4:18 NKJV);”
- David reigns over all Israel: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years (2 Sam. 5:4 NKJV);”
- Elijah escapes from Jezebel: “So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kin. 19: NKJV);”
- Jehoash repairs the temple: “In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba (2 Kin. 12:1 NKJV);”
- Death of Solomon: “Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years (2 Ch. 9:30 NKJV);”
- Proclamation against Egypt: “I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries (Eze. 29:1 NKJV);”
- Jonah preaches at Nineveh: “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown (Jnh. 3:4 NKJV);”
- Satan tempts Jesus: “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry (Mt. 4:2 NKJV);
- Jesus Christ appeared: “Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God (Ac. 1:3 NKJV);” and
- Failure of the wilderness wanderers: “Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (Heb.3:17-19 NKJV).”
Based on the above-indicated Scriptures references, 40 days are very significant for reflecting on our purpose in life. Therefore, approximately six (6) weeks of time, believers in Jesus Christ who have seriously committed and determined to achieve the goal will prayerfully meditate on the Word of God on daily basis, and avoid all kinds of temptations, bad habits, behaviors, and thoughts with help of the Holy Spirit, which is promised to the believers.
According to the Scriptures, we have the assurance of discipline. Why wait? It is the right time to execute the plan of discipline. Let us prayerfully initiate the plan. Shalom!