10. Pillars of Rest – Self-awareness and Discipline

Self-awareness is such a buzzword now. What does it truly mean for us? How can we connect self-awareness, rest, and discipline into one action?

Our lives are a journey of self-discovery, or should I rather say not self-discovery but returning to our original created state. It begins with knowing and understanding God. An ancient truth that’s been passed down for many centuries. We see this when Jesus was in His wilderness experience. This experience was Him finding out how much of a Son he truly is. It was about understanding his function and position as the Son of God.

Jesus and Self-Awareness

Self-awareness has been defined as the ability to make an accurate assessment of your personality, strengths, and weaknesses. It is the conscious knowledge of one’s character, emotions, desires, and motivations.

Jesus was very self-aware, he understood who he was, what he came to earth to do, and how he was going to accomplish the mission set out before Him.

He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].” Mark 1:38

Through the following scripture verses, we can see Jesus had a strong and confident self-awareness.

Jesus said, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30). He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:48). He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  

Self-awareness is your awareness of how you’re abiding in Christ Jesus.

Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering presence. 2 Corinthians 13:5

Getting stuck in Self-awareness

I’ve noticed that some of my clients get stuck on the road of self-awareness. Once they realize they are not living their truth, they will continue to search for lies, this is out of fear instead of focusing on living in His truth.

Allowing God to show you your heart in the place of rest is good. Good to know how He created you and good to allow Him to show you where you are not walking in His ways. However, He made us perfect in Christ, our self-awareness should be on our perfect being and not on our imperfect self. Jesus didn’t say to His Father, I’ve messed up again, or I don’t hear you, or I don’t trust myself. No, He proclaimed who He was.

We tend to walk around with thoughts like. That’s just who I am? It’s my parent’s fault I am like this, or even I’m only human.

The fact is that most of those sayings stop you from pursuing His heart in who He says you are. David said it this way.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

When we constantly look at what is wrong with us, we never enter the REST RESET to think differently and act differently. David said in the Scripture lead me in an everlasting way. Lead me in truth. He knew that truth was a better way, the right way. He could only be led there because in himself he struggled to get there. This is rest, yielding to the inner rest of your heart where God can lead you to His truth.

• An Invitation to self-awareness is to discover truths. The importance of finding these truths lie in your Purpose
• Once you have obtained, a purpose you learn to grow in it
• Growing in it requires you to rest in the transformation, through His leading, this is called discipline.

Discipline in Rest

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins.
You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness, you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me!
This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. Psalm 139:4-6

In this Psalm David explores how intimately God knew him, David declared that such profound awareness was too wonderful for him; it seemed unattainable.

This is the problem we sometimes face; we believe it is unattainable for us to walk in the fullness of who we are in Christ. God truly brings us to a place of fruitfulness and abundance. Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. God’s understanding of who He created us to be not our own understanding of who we think we are.

For all our efforts at being self-aware, we still seem to be confused about who we are and why we behave the way we do. The question seems to arise: Why can’t I seem to believe that God truly loves me?

Here’s where your work comes in – discipline.

Discipline comes when we walk out the truth and not remain in the anxious thoughts, lies, and offenses.

Abiding in Christ is our discipline. Abiding in our rest, is the growth process. It takes a lot of discipline to walk in truth and to rest in the knowledge of that truth.

Make no mistake once you choose the road of Rest and you are faced with His face you will see the mirror of your heart. Are you ready to become the best you, you can ever be?

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