What are we called to when it comes to discipline

Why hello, it has been sometime since I last wrote. It is not because I haven't had things to write about more over it is because I have been unwilling to write and actually think about some of this stuff. But tonight I couldn't fall to slothfulness any longer, God really hit me with some good truths in a book I am reading called "Discipline of Grace".

I have no idea where I got the idea that following and obeying God was something that was easy to do, because it is by no means easy. As I continue to grow and understand more about the nature of God and our role as men and women in relationship with God (purely because of the grace of God revealing these things to me not anything on my own) I realize there is a lot to take in. There is both a role of God and a role of man in this relationship, we must fight the temptation to think that God does everything and we just sit back and relax, or in opposition, that we have to do everything, which would mean we would be trying to merit favor before Him. A great quote from "Discipline of Grace" Jerry Bridges, says " We need to learn this scriptural principle that the Holy Spirit works in us to enable us to live lives pleasing to God. He does not do the work for us; rather, He enables us to do the work. We often use the expression " Let the Lord live His life through me." I am personally uncomfortable with this expression because it suggests a passivity on our part. He does not live His life through me. Rather, as I depend on Him, He enables me to live a life pleasing to Him."

So as I start to really think about God living His live through me I find it strange that I could believe that, I mean He is infinite and I am created to His image, He doesn't need me to live through. How can that even be honoring to Him? It is like use desiring to live our lives through machines or avatars, after awhile it gets boring forcing something to do what you want. I mean what is more honoring, having God force us to honor Him or us disciplining ourselves to look more like Christ each and everyday such as Paul calls Timothy to in 1 Timothy 4:7.

So there are two ways of thinking that would not be profitable, thinking we have to live this life on our own without God giving us strength, wisdom, and the ability to pursue Him through Christ, and the idea that God will do everything no matter what we do. I think Psalm 119:33-35 best explains what I am trying to say. "Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments for I delight in it." Here we see that it takes both of us to live a life that glorifies the Lord. The Psalmist ask for God to teach him that he might hold onto and obey what God has commanded, and in the next verse he asks for wisdom that he might once again obey and uphold the Law. We must be disciplined and pray for the ability to honor God, for He is the one that enables us to live a life that is pleasing to Him. It is impossible for us to live a life that pleases Him unless first God reveals Himself to us. Then through reading His word, prayer, and meditation we may become disciplined, yet only because He enables and we respond.