DAY 1 – DEEPEN MY DISCIPLINE

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By: Pastor Heiden Ratner

[/nectar_highlighted_text][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-book” color=”Accent-Color”]SCRIPTURE: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” – Proverbs 12:1 ESV[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-user” color=”Accent-Color”]DEVOTIONAL: Happy New Year! It’s January 1st and by His grace, we’ve made it another year. It’s likely you have goals, resolutions, and dreams you hope to achieve in 2022. As a church family we do as well – one of them being to go deeper (beyond the surface) in our walk and relationships with Christ and each other. How are we going to do that? You might ask. The answers are many (including 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 🙂 ) yet, one thing we know for sure is that we’re going to have to deepen our discipline. As the Proverb states above, we not only want to act with discipline, but fall deeper in love with discipline. 

 

Webster’s Dictionary defines Discipline as: pattern of behavior; to train or develop by instruction and exercise especially in self-control. As a former collegiate and professional athlete, I know the great prospect discipline holds. When discipline increases, distraction decreases. As we discipline ourselves to intentionally pray and fast over the next 21 days, you can be assured that you are going to grow in knowledge (Prov. 12:1) and grow deeper in your walk with Christ. I’m excited to journey with you over the next 21 days, let’s lock in and deepen our discipline! [/text-with-icon]

[text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-heart” color=”Accent-Color”]ACTION STEP: Invite someone to hold you accountable in your prayer and fasting. Discipline yourself by removing unnecessary distractions that take your focus away from the things of God.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”fa fa-hand-paper-o” color=”Accent-Color”]PRAYER: Father, in the name of Jesus, we pray for a renewed discipline this year. We want to go deeper. Help us to hear your voice clearer, repent quicker, and to fall deeper in love with you throughout the process. We pray You would be our strength and Your disciplined nature would transform our sinful nature. In Jesus name, amen! [/text-with-icon]