Ps Tan: Discipline Over Small Things

Ps Tan:  Discipline Over Small Things

Dan.1: 11-12 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.

 I think for some people it is very difficult to resist good food. Some people can never say no to chocolates. Some people can never say no to a good meal. I find as I grow in God, certain inclinations in me, including my appetite, change. You become more disciplined and this discipline in the end shows itself in other ways in the spiritual world. And it's because of that in verse 17.  As for these four youths, (the sad story is this happened only to these four young Jewish boys. There were hundreds of other young Jewish boys) God gave them learning and skill in all letters and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Out of that came authority and power over the nations. 

It was a simple question of food. It was a simple question of getting up in the morning. It was a simple question of spending more time with God in the night. It was a simple question of saying no to the devil; simple question of saying no to distraction; simple question of choosing the right area to go. Simple things make the big things. Small little things make the things that change the world. It is still not too late tonight. Small little things like the small little efforts that you began to do to stay awake, to pray through, to have a goal to press through, not to yield to the comforts.

 Sometimes when you off the lights during this overnight prayer vigil, some people are arranging their chairs for their bed. What we want is everyone to do his or her best to pray. The small little thing goes a long way. And the discipline that you develop here tonight will get back into your daily life to reverse your bad habits now. Things don't end here; our life continues and the little efforts that you make now will slowly creep back into your daily life. It's a never-ending story. Every victory you have builds up to stronger authority and stronger success. At the same time every failure does pull you down. If you ever fail gets over it fast don't think too much of it. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord though he falls, though he falls, he shall not be cast down.

 If you ever fail, if you ever fall, don't get too condemned Just make sure there is more going. And the only way you can make sure that there is no more going is the more you fall get up quickly and go. Because in a life span, you fall, you stop, and if there is too much stopping, too much falling, on the general equation in the end you actually reverse and backslide. Just keep going and you will reach the shore in heaven strong in God, strong spiritually, achieving and receiving the rewards of God.