An Ant's Life by Joyce Meyer

1 Corinthians 9:27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁷But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].

Paul is speaking here about self-control, self-denial, restraining the appetite, and subduing the flesh. Self-discipline is keeping yourself going in the right direction without someone making you do so. The problem is that somehow people have gotten the wrong idea that everything in life is supposed to be easy.

Proverbs 6:6-8 talks about the ant, "which having no chief, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest." You need to be like the ant. You need to be a person who is self-motivated and self-disciplined; who does what is right because it is right, not because someone may be looking or because someone is making you do it.

Kat's Thoughts: This was a good one for me to read as I ended my day, because this morning I fell into a funk of "I just don't want to." There were things that needed to be done that I simply didn't want to do. I often have to fight to overcome my natural laziness. I want to sit and talk on the phone all day with my friends, watch tv, eat, and just do whatever it is I want to do. But what I want to do and what needs to be done are rarely the same thing.

As a mom, I know the kids are watching me and I have to stay disciplined in doing things no matter if I feel like it or not, because that is the expectation I hold for them. I expect their rooms to be cleaned. If I ask a question, I expect them to be honest even if they won't get caught. If I expect discipline out of others, I have to be willing to exercise it myself.

This also goes for my spiritual life. If I expect my kids to have a good attitude, then my attitude needs to be in check. If I expect them to be kind to others, they need to see that in me. If I want them to pray, I need to pray. And even if I am sure they aren't watching, that is who I need to be doing, because ultimately it is God that I am portraying out in the world and I need to have a Christ-like attitude at all times, because no matter what, he is watching and I will have to give account for all that I say and do in my life.

My Spiritualmom say "I try to speak in such a way that I never have to apologize." That is how we should all live; disciplined lives in thought and action. We should attempt to make every action, deed, and word one that will not require forgiveness later either from God or others. Of course, we are human and we are going to slip up, but also be disciplined enough to admit when you are wrong. If everyone in the world tried to live this way, I know it would be a much better place. But we can do our individual parts to make the difference and hopefully it will be paid forward. Someone sees your discipline and love, and they feel inclined to do the same. But it's something we always have to be willing to do, because you can't genuinely flip the switch off and on. Eventually you are going to slip up and power-off at the wrong time and someone will see it.