Susan’s Refinement Process

My name is Susan, and this is part of my story. I'm going to start by sharing the scripture that God started speaking to me about.

4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2:4-5.

The Greek word for 'soldier active service’ is strateuō (#4754), which means: used of the general, to make war, do battle, and (chiefly) of the soldiers serving under him. To serve as a soldier; figuratively, of the warring lusts against the soul. Properly, to contend, fighting like a soldier in a war; (figuratively) to engage in spiritual warfare, a metaphor for spiritual conflict.

I had been working to master my lack of self-discipline when these verses were dropped into my spirit. At the time, I was dealing with my runaway thoughts and vain imaginations that were not pleasing to God. It wasn’t just vain imaginations, but worries, fears, and complaints. Philippians 4:8 tells us what He wants us to dwell on, and I was having a very difficult time learning how to control my thoughts so that they would be pleasing to Him.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

As I chose to discipline my thoughts, I found that it was not that easy I found myself thinking that it would be easier to be lifting very heavy weights in a gym than trying to control my thoughts. I would send them away in the name of Jesus, and another would replace the one I sent away. Some were familiar thoughts that I enjoyed dwelling on, and I wasn’t as diligent at sending those away as I was at sending away the less familiar thoughts. James 1:5–6 tells us to ask Him for help without doubting, and that is exactly what I did.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6

I asked Him to help me overcome thoughts that filled my mind with things that were not of Him, and then He dropped 2 Timothy 2:4-5 into my spirit. I was definitely in a ‘soldier active service’ situation; I was allowing my thoughts to be entangled with the affairs of everyday life, the daydreaming and complaining, yet I desperately wanted my thoughts to be pleasing to Him.

I pondered a soldier and an athlete, and I am drawn to the army described in Joel 2:1–11. These soldiers in Joel 2 are extremely disciplined soldiers who do not deviate from their paths. They do not crowd one another but march each in their own path. That type of discipline does not come about by being a weekend warrior, but by constant training. I clearly saw how my behavior was not pleasing to the one who enlisted me as His soldier.

7 They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like soldiers;
And they each march [d]in line,
Nor do they deviate from their paths.
8 They do not crowd each other,
They march everyone in his path;
When they [e]burst through the [f]defenses,
They do not break ranks. Joel 2:7-8

This army is the one I found in Revelation. It is Jesus’ army!
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. Revelation 19:14

I want to be in His army and if I am to be in His army, then I need to train now, I need discipline in all areas of my life. Paul tells us that we run our race to win, and we do that with self-control. This encouraged me so much, it encouraged me to keep fighting the battle in my mind because I am being trained so that my body will become my slave and I will not be disqualified when I stand before Jesus, but instead I would be a well-disciplined soldier in His army.

23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 2 Corinthians 9:23-27

The Greek word for ‘discipline’ here is hupópiazó (#5299) and it means ‘strike under the eye, hence: I bruise, treat severely, discipline by hardship, molest, annoy, harass, worry, exhaust.’

The Greek word for ‘exercise self-control’ here is egkrateuomai (#1467) and means properly, to exercise self control – literally "exercising dominion, from within."

That is a strong word for discipline, but that is what I need to do in order to run in such as way that I may win the battle in the long run. 2 Timothy 2:5 reminds us that we need to compete by the rules in order to win the prize. 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

What prize am I going after? Ultimately, eternal life with Him. Looking at my situation against all eternity encourages and inspires me to persevere and not to become discouraged when it ‘feels’ as though the thoughts that do not please God have power over me. Not if I follow the rules and what are the rules? Repent and bear fruit in keeping with repentance.(Matthew 3:8) As I discipline my brain, the fruit of self-control will grow in me and the more I discipline, the more self-control will mature and will be stable in all situations.

Now I am going to put the tools He has given us to use. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells me that when I am tempted, He will always provide a way of escape and James 1:5-6 says if I ask for help without doubting He will give wisdom. I also know that the way of escape He provides may or may not look like anything I expected. I also know that when I choose obedience, His grace in Titus 2:11-12 will instruct me how to deny the temptation of thinking ungodly thoughts.

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

11 For the grace of God has appeared, [a]bringing salvation to all men, 12 [b]instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12

I am encouraged and my perseverance is strengthened when I am reminded that this is all temporary and set my eyes on what is eternal. While I haven’t yet mastered lack of discipline in my life, I am already seeing changes. I do not dull my senses with the internet as I once did. I rip myself away from daydreams and complaining thoughts. I catch my thoughts much quicker and am intentional to not let my mind be idle. I turn on worship music or have the audio bible turned on.

17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

I pray my story encourages you to strive to live a life of obedience. If anyone needs to reach out to hear more about how I'm learning to overcome, please don't hesitate to send a message.