Discipline VS Legalism

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So I told you on Friday how God has been in the process of healing me from my hatred of cleaning and schedules and routines and all that stuff. If you've been a reader for even a short while, you know all about this. I have been posting my progress and showing you what He shows me.

The process went like this:

1 - I realized I did work well on schedules...I just don't work well with the interruptions that kids and family life bring and mess up that schedule. Click HERE to read about that.

2 - I also learned that a routine that you have when you were single, with no children is totally different than when you have a family

3 - I learned my expectations are too high. That is also in the "click HERE" link above.

4 - I learned that I needed to be flexible..that is also on that same link. Speaking of that link...when I wrote it, I was on fire to start a routine again...only for it to come crashing down. I felt like it was just something else telling me what to do. It was something hovering over me to condemn me when I didn't do it. I didn't have the freedom to enjoy a schedule/routine like so many other women. Dear God I want to be able to enjoy a routine! Then...

5 - God showed me that it's okay to not fit in that mold. I don't HAVE TO do anything. Click HERE for that post

6 - He even showed me ways on how to fit cleaning in without taking a lot of time out of my day. Click HERE for that post

But oh sweet Christian lady...God wasn't done with me yet...and I hope what He changed in me, will encourage you.

After He healed me from feeling like I HAVE TO clean and that I don't NEED to follow a schedule He showed me something I never thought before.

I was on a blog (can't remember which one) and the writer runs marathons. And as I was reading about it, God immediately put it on my heart something like this "see, she doesn't HAVE TO run, she doesn't HAVE TO practice, she doesn't HAVE TO do anything. But the day that she runs to win a race...she will LOSE."

See...you don't HAVE TO do anything. You can eat whatever you want, when you want. But you won't lose weight.

You can buy whatever you want, when you want. But you won't get out of debt.

You don't have to clean, but your house will be a mess.

You don't have to be organized, but you'll be stressed when you can't find something

Isn't this all true?

Before, whenever I would make a routine or schedule, it would end up being RULES for me. I became LEGALISTIC with it. It controlled me. It condemned me.

But God has shown me that it's not a set of RULES. It's something called Discipline. And with all Discipline comes blessings right? As we speak, we planted our first garden. Tilling that grass to make the dirt, to plant the seeds, was REALLY hard work. But now I'm seeing little things sprouting up. It was worth it.

I don't HAVE TO follow a routine. But if I use it as a form of discipline, I will reap the benefits of a clean home.

I don't HAVE TO do laundry every day, but it's easier to fold only one load than five.

I don't HAVE TO empty the dishwasher in the morning, but it's easier to keep up with the dirty dishes if I start my day with an empty dishwasher

I don't HAVE TO clean the toilet all the time, but I sure am thankful when I have to throw up that there are no pee dribbles under the lid!

See...you don't HAVE TO do anything. Routines aren't your boss. It's not a set of rules! It's discipline! You are disciplining yourself to have the great results of a clean home.

So after all those lessons...I am finally free. I can write up a routine and follow it confidently KNOWING, that it is not a set of rules. I don't HAVE TO follow it.

I WANT TO follow it because I WANT TO  reap a harvest from being disciplined.

I have been following my own little mail organization process for a couple weeks now. It feels GREAT to know that mail is never again going to take over my home...that is...as long as I stay DISCIPLINED in following it. Even though I've been doing it for only a short while, I'm reaping a harvest in the sense that it takes me less than five minutes to go through the mail!

I can't wait to reap a harvest all over my house!! How about you?




Linked to: Lowercase Letters, The Better Mom, Call Me Blessed, Time Warp Wife, Growing Home, A Pause on the Path, Lessons from Ivy, Cornerstone Confessions, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Deep Roots at Home, Our Simple Country Life, Intentional Me, Raising Mighty Arrows, Your Thriving Family, Consider the Lilies, Finding Joy, Finding Beauty,