DISCIPLINE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD: Living from the Inside Out

By Robin A. Cioffi

DISCIPLINE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
What is it that we dislike so much about the word discipline? The older I get the more I realize that discipline is not optional but a necessity. I'm not referring to discipline in the sense you might normally assume. Like going on a diet or working out at the gym. No, I'm referring to the discipline we need to apply to our thought life.
The truth is that God wants you to experience His peace and joy no matter in what situation you might find yourself. The question is how do we do that?
In this book you will discover practical truths that will equip and challenge you to make changes in your life.
• You will be reminded that you are to be Spirit-led and not "Sense-led."
• You will learn that you can be in control of your feelings and not the other way around.
• You will be challenged as you consider the power of your thoughts and the words you speak.
• You will be reminded of the overcoming power of God's Word and the victory that belongs to you as a child of God.
• You will discover for yourself, Discipline Is Not a Dirty Word!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098313425

Book preview

DISCIPLINE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD

Living from the Inside Out

Copyright © 2020 by Robin A. Cioffi

Scriptures cited NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Other scripture quotations cited—

AMPC: From the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. © 1954, 1962, 1967, The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission.

ESV: From the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Used with permission.

KJV: From the Holy Bible, King James Version.

NKJV: From the Holy Bible, New King James Version. © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission.

NLT: From the New Living Translation, © 1996, 2007, Tyndale House Foundation. Used with permission.

NIV: Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

TPT: The Passion Translation®. © 2017, 2018 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

AMPC;

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN: 9781098313425

Published by:

Olive Orchard Press, LLC

Coral Springs, Florida 33071

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I must first give thanks to my God for enabling me to write this book. I am forever grateful for your amazing grace and love beyond measure. I am Yours and You are mine…

Thank you to my precious parents and siblings for your constant love and care. I love you all so very dearly.

Thank you to Bishop Rick Thomas for encouraging me many years ago to write this book. I still remember your telling me that I had something to say and that people should hear from me.

Thank you to my beloved son, Daniel. You have reminded me to keep on dreaming and have encouraged me to continue fulfilling my God-given assignment. I love you more than words could ever express.

Thank you to Ellen Nestos for the countless hours you have sown into making this book a reality. I love and appreciate you so very much.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1   Who Are You?

2   What’s Wrong with Discipline

3   Change Your Mind and You’ll Change Your Life

4   Guard Your Heart

5   Watch Your Mouth

Faith Declarations

6   Think Yourself Happy

INTRODUCTION

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT ALMOST ALL FAILURE IS due to a broken focus. It seems reasonable then to say that with consistent and strong focus you will have success and victory. The question that begs to be asked is what are you focusing on? The Bible teaches and exhorts us to focus our thoughts upon the Word of God.

My purpose in writing this book is to encourage you and hopefully to even challenge you.

I am really amazed with the evidence that many of us are living defeated lives.

Rather than recognizing the power of Christ that’s been deposited on the inside of our born-again spirit, we are being ruled by our own thoughts and emotions. Rather than choosing to be led by the Word of God, many of us are choosing to live life carnally-minded—just like the people around us—just like the world does.

If we are going to really learn to walk by faith we cannot live our lives being moved by our senses. Remember, you are called to walk by faith and not walk by your feelings. Today, more than ever, we must realize that Christ in us is the hope of glory. We the church should be the most joyful and peaceful people in this world. I believe we are truly living in the last of the last days and we need to get back to the basics of choosing to live a spiritually disciplined life.

It really is a daily decision that you and I must make.

Are we going to be a people that choose to be led by the Spirit or are we going to be moved by what we see and feel? We must daily choose to put on Christ. Choose you this day! I believe now is the time for the Church to begin looking like the Church. People are looking to us for the answers. You see we are to be different than the rest of the world. We have Christ and He is the answer to all of life’s problems. He has given to us the very words of life.

However, too many times we who are the Church look no different than the rest of the world. Before we go any further, I’d like to offer you the best gift you will ever receive. If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, today is your day. The most important truth you will ever hear is that God is a good God and He loves you. He really cares about you and wants you to get to know Him personally.

We read in John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NLT) I want to invite you to pray a life changing but simple prayer.

The Bible says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9,10 NASB).

If you would like to receive Jesus as