Learn Success From Failure

I like this quote. : ) I snagged it off of Hope Road who I believe snagged it off of Girl Talk which, by the way, are both great blogs that you should check out.

“What is the use of regret unless we can rise by it to a better future? Sighs, which do not raise us higher, are an ill use of vital breath. Chasten yourselves, but be not discouraged. Gather up the arrows which aforetime fell wide of the mark, not to break them in passionate despair, but to send them to the target with direct aim, and a more concentrated force. Weave victories out of defeats. Learn success from failure, wisdom from blundering.” (Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership by Steve Miller, p. 93)

It used to be a very great weakness of mine to dwell on my failures. I still don't like to fail very much AT ALL but at least I don't ALWAYS beat myself up for it. I'm so thankful that God is able to mature me and grow me!

And then as I was pondering quotes and scriptures, I had this thought--I like that sometimes quotes (and scripture) affirm the truth that I know, kind of like, 'Yes, see, you are on the right path!' or 'Don't you see and agree that God is good in that?!' Whereas other quotes (and scriptures) convict, in that they say, 'That path that you're walking? It's the wrong one'. : )

Tips for Self-Discipline: Truth Matters, Inc.

I thought this was very helpful and practical!

1. Start Small. Start with your room. Clean it, then keep it clean. When something is out of place, train yourself to put it where it belongs. Then extend the discipline of neatness to the rest of your home.
2. Be on time. That may not seem very spiritual, but it’s important. If you’re supposed to be somewhere at a specific time, be there on time. Develop the ability to discipline your desires, activities, and demands so that you can arrive on time.
3. Do the hardest job first. When you do that, you will find it easier to do the simpler tasks.
4. Organize your life. Plan the use of your time; don’t just react to circumstances. Use a calendar and make a daily list of things you need to accomplish. If you don’t control your time, everything else will.
5. Accept correction. Correction helps make you more disciplined because it shows you what you need to avoid. Don’t avoid criticism; accept it gladly.
6. Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to your feelings. Learn to do what you know to be right even if you don’t feel like doing it. Sometimes it’s even beneficial to deny yourself things that are acceptable to have, like a doughnut in the morning or dessert after dinner. Exercising such self-restraint helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control. Cultivating discipline in the physical realm will help you become disciplined in your spiritual life.
7. Welcome responsibility. When you have an opportunity to do something that needs to be done, volunteer for it if you have talent in that area. Accepting responsibility can force you to organize yourself.

(HT: Truth Matter, Inc.)

More on God's Discipline

"Look upon your chastening as God's chariots sent to carry your soul into the high places of spiritual achievement." - Hannah Whitall Smith

"Better to be pruned to grow than cut up to burn." - John Trapp

Twenty-Two Questions

These are the twenty-two questions members of John Wesley's/George Whitefield Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions. What excellent questions to ask ourselves every day. I don't really think I could answer in the correct way to very many, but they don't feel condemnatory; rather, they seem purifying, cleansing, and challenging. They almost seem like a protection against spiritual pride and also at the same time, spiritual apathy. May God keep me humbly in balance and on guard against both.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression than I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what I was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrusting?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?

Paideuo & Mastigoo

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Hebrews 12:5-6

The Greek word for discipline in this verse is paideuo (pahee-dyoo'-o). It means: to train up a child, i.e. Educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment) -- chasten(-ise), instruct, learn, teach. The Greek word for punish in this verse is even more harsh! It is mastigoo (mas-tig-o'-o) and it means, to flog (literally or figuratively) -- scourge. Sounds pretty intense. Guess that's why the Scripture says not to lose heart.

So if the presence of discipline & punishment is evidence that you are God's child, I think it is safe to say that a lack of the Lord's discipline in your life could only mean one thing and that is, that you are not His son or daughter. I hope to always have the Lord's paideuo and mastigoo in my life!

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)