Covenant Responsibilities for Singles (3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Covenant Responsibilities for Singles (3)

Dear Reader,

If you have been following my teachings since the beginning of this month, I believe God is already doing great things in your life. So far, I have showed you how you can locate the right purpose for living. Last week, I taught you how to accept responsibility to partner with God.

This week, I will be looking at Discipline: The Hallmark of Greatness. The purpose of this teaching is to help you discover how to take control of your life, by setting goals and taking concrete steps to achieve them, in the pursuit of greatness and excellence in life.

Everyone loves to be great; everyone loves to excel in life’s adventure. But how many are ready to pay the price for it? Someone said, “Life is not a sprint; it’s a long distance race.” No wonder God’s Word says: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25).

What is discipline?

Discipline means self-control, the ability to control your behaviour. To secure your future, you must learn to discipline your behaviour.

That means, if you must arrive at the colourful future you dream of, it is expedient for you to put yourself under a disciplined self-programme that helps to monitor your advancement on the journey.

In this teaching, I will like to focus on self-discipline. Self discipline from the American Heritage Dictionary, means discipline and training of oneself, usually for improvement. Self-discipline is the ability to regulate your conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than impulse, desire, peer-pressure or social custom.

Self-discipline is one of the hardest qualities to achieve in character development. Having self-discipline means that you must have the ability to control yourself.  For example, instead of going out with friends to play, you must be able to control/make yourself to stay back and study. Self- discipline means that you have to be very determined to achieve the goals you have set.

To be a self-disciplined person, you have to be able to control your feelings and desires, and also behave responsible without orders.

PRINCIPLES OF SELF-DISCIPLINE

Set a goal

For the purpose of the mission set before him, Paul said: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12). Without goal-setting, it is very difficult to go far in life. So, before you start a project or work, be sure to set a target or goal. A wise man said, “Goal setting is the strongest force for human motivation. So, set a goal and make it come true.”

Have a Strong desire to achieve your goal

Apostle Paul said: I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). When you have a goal, ensure that you have the desire to fulfill it.

Persevere in spite of failure

You need to preserve in whatever you are doing; refuse to give up easily. The Bible says: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

To be able to benefit from the points that has just been discussed, you need to be born again. To be born again means to confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord. If you are ready to be born again, please say this prayer:  “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).