'I Need A Holiday From Spiritual Discipline' (Self Control)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

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

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Self Control?

How often do you find yourself wanting to take a holiday from the activities, like this one, that are part of your spiritual discipline?

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers comments on taking a 'spiritual holiday'.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"Beware of ever thinking, “Oh, that thing in my life doesn’t matter much.” The fact that it doesn’t matter much to you may mean that it matters a great deal to God. Nothing should be considered a trivial matter by a child of God."

What issue in your life might qualify as 'that thing in your life that doesn't matter much'?

Oswald adds:

"How much longer are we going to prevent God from teaching us even one thing? But He keeps trying to teach us and He never loses patience."

How patient has God been with you with regarding the issue you described in Step 4?

Oswald continues:

"You say, “I know I am right with God”— yet the “high places” still remain in your life. There is still an area of disobedience. Do you protest that your heart is right with God, and yet there is something in your life He causes you to doubt?"

Regarding your relationship with God, what doubts are you currently experiencing?

Do you agree that these doubts are God's way of calling you into greater intimacy with Him?

In other words, without these doubts, you might not have any reason to try to strengthen your trust in God.

Oswald states:

"Whenever God causes a doubt about something, stop it immediately, no matter what it may be. Nothing in our lives is a mere insignificant detail to God."

Would you like to take a moment now to stop your doubts and take them before God?

Come to Him and express your sorrow (repentance) for not thoroughly trusting Him, His word, His promises and character.

You can do so privately, or in the space provided.

Oswald observes:

"Are there some things regarding your physical or intellectual life to which you have been paying no attention at all? If so, you may think you are all correct in the important areas, but you are careless— you are failing to concentrate or to focus properly. You no more need a day off from spiritual concentration on matters in your life than your heart needs a day off from beating."

Given this observation, how important do you think it is to dedicate yourself to your spiritual disciplines?

Oswald claims:

"As you cannot take a day off morally and remain moral, neither can you take a day off spiritually and remain spiritual."

What are your thoughts regarding this statement?

Oswald adds:

"God wants you to be entirely His, and it requires paying close attention to keep yourself fit. It also takes a tremendous amount of time."

In all honesty, how often do you think you can maintain a close, intimate relationship with Jesus without having to put in the time and effort?

Oswald concludes:

"Yet some of us expect to rise above all of our problems, going from one mountaintop experience to another, with only a few minutes’ effort."

How many fellow Christians do you know that are living under this premise?

Would you consider asking the Holy Spirit to direct you to a person who would benefit from the 'This One Thing Jesus Asks of You' Trail and then sending it to them?

Note: you can find "This One Thing...' in 'Related'.

How much has this Trail increased the level of Self Control in your current dispostion?