Playing Like Mike Means Practicing Like Mike Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Playing Like Mike Means Practicing Like Mike-------------------------- Date: 10/1/2001 Keyword: "discipline" "no" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: 1 Timothy 4:7-8* 7. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8. for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. Questions 1. What thoughts come to your mind when you read the word "discipline"? Positive thoughts? Negative thoughts?   2. The apostle Paul says that disciplining ourselves for the purpose of godliness has a twofold benefit. In what two ways does godly discipline benefit us? (The Greek word for "discipline" found in the verses above is the same word from which we derive our English word "gymnasium." It was a word used by the athlete, the man (or woman) who was denying himself certain pleasures now for a prize later on. He worked out his body in practice so that he could perform well in competition.)   Practical help Lots of people want to play basketball like Michael Jordan played (or maybe will play again!). Fewer seem interested in practicing the way Michael practiced! But the two are inseparable. The reserves that made it possible for Mike to push his body, to be creative on the court, and to sink clutch baskets in the waning seconds of a game were present because he disciplined himself by incessant practice before the game ever started. If you want the strength to say "no!" to the temptation to view Internet porn, practice saying "no!" to something else. One well-respected Christian has given this advice, "I say ‘no!’ to something every day, just to stay in practice." Discipline yourself to say "no!" when you are not sitting by your computer so that when you are tempted by porn, your "no!" muscle will have already been flexed and strengthened in practice. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."