Celebrate Discipline

So if you are here reading this blog with a title Celebrate Discipline first of all I applaud you and second know I am praying for both of us. I am praying we will hear His message for us today.


"The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!" Revelation 3:19 (MSG)

Celebrate Discipline is the title of chapter 16 in Joyce Meyer’s book Eat the cookie…buy the shoes.

We need to have discipline in our thoughts. our emotions, and our willingness to allow Gods will to become our will.

Now before you write off discipline as a naughty word…go with me for a few minutes here.

There needs to be balance between discipline and celebration.

“Discipline helps us to be what we say we want to be and have what we say we want to have, but never will have without it.” (pg 163)

Celebrating discipline has to be learned.

Discipline should be a tool, not a master over our lives. Again there is balance and swinging too far to one side makes discipline to heavy.

Just as having no discipline makes for a mess.

The enemy has deceived many of us by allowing us to think we can never live in balance by celebrating and be disciplined all at the same time.

• Have you ever thrown a pity party stating you can never eat dessert but everyone else can?

• Have you ever called yourself an all or nothing kind of person?

• If you open the bag of chips can you stop at one?

• Can you walk into the bakery section of the store?

• Do you bypass the shoe section of Macy’s?

• Have you ever felt like you will never be able to stick to a healthy eating plan? A workout routine?

• Do you set goals for yourself? Do you achieve them?

• Have you ever defended your choices as habits that you can’t break?

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (emphasis mine)

God created us to seek balance and then live in it.

How do you see yourself?

Do you have self-control?

Have you ever felt like a pin ball bouncing around allowing emotions, the number on the scale, the check book balance, or current circumstances to move you?

“If you will see yourself the way He sees you (finished) then you will become what He says you are….He calls us disciplined and self-controlled and we must have that godly image if we want a life of freedom.” (pg 166)

Do you believe discipline is freedom?

I am truly living in a season of life right now where God is teaching me about balance. And seeking it in all areas of my life. I even believe God is using the Engineer to shout the mantra…’balance Nichole’…and He has this phrase on repeat for me!

“Jesus challenged His disciples to come out into the deep to find what they truly desired. (see Luke 5:4)" (pg 169)

I love the image of coming out in the deep!!

Going out into the deep with God means you are wanting more of God in your life and that you are willing to experience Him!

The purpose of discipline is to make us more like Jesus.

Jesus is an amazing role model of balance.

“True spiritual disciplines should make us more like Jesus, Who is humble, gentle, meek, and lowly, and yet at the same time is mighty, powerful, and a victorious warrior.” (pg 171)

Balance is not about oppression or manipulation. Balance was created so we could truly experience the freedom of a grace and love filled relationship with our Creator.

Discipline should always be a self-ish thing. Discipline is a one on one thing with God. It is NOT my job, role, or purpose to discipline anyone else. My convictions are not everyone else’s.

Self control should always focus on self!

The power for discipline and self-control is fueled by God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things )there is no law.


Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 (NASB) (emphasis mine)

May we come to see that when we allow His power to work in us and through us there will be many great moments to celebrate!



***We will be finishing this book on Friday. I have so enjoyed this seeking balance journey with you. I am thankful God used Joyce Meyer to speak love and wisdom to my heart. Please join me on Friday for some celebrating. And there just might be some cookies and shoes involved!