Artists make something out of nothing all the time. It is amazing to see what some artists use to create their work. However, painters often rely on more traditional tools to create their master pieces. Brushes are crucial for painters. Also, brush maintenance is crucial to painting. If you do not take care of your brushes, you will shorten their usefulness & life expectancy. Leaving paint in the hairs/bristles to dry or leaving brushes soak too long in water can ruin them. Allowing paint to dry can create an unbending non receptive surface for paint to transfer to or from. Allowing paint brushes to soak to long can begin to loosen the hairs and cause shedding to occur. It can also ruin the finish on the handle of the brush which makes it extremely uncomfortable to use. An artist knows that to be their best they must not neglect the "house keeping" aspect of their craft.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3: 16-17
With all my heart I have sought You: Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
Your word I ahve treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
Psalm 119: 10-11
Believers can become neglectful of important "disciplines". Some believers may just not like "disciplines" of faith because they feel too much like work. However, if we neglect reading God's Word, praying, fellowship with other believers....we are setting ourselves up for a life that does not have the power, impact, or the vibrancy God intended. Like the ridged bristles of a brush that has not properly been cleaned....we become ineffective in our faith. We are not able to be used by God as he designed us to be. Even though discipline may feel like work in the beginning, you quickly realize the importance, impact, and joy faithfully seeking God out in His Word, through prayer, or even having a mentor relationship can bring to your life. Like the artist knows they must be disciplined in cleaning their brushes to be able to use them to their full potential...so the believer must know that Christian discipline allows them to live out their life of faith to its full potential!
If this is a topic you may not know a lot about...or would like to learn more about.....may I suggest the book Celebrations of Discipline by Richard Foster. He also wrote PRAYER: Finding Heart's True Home (another awesome book).
PRAYER
Dear Lord
Help me to be disciplined in my walk with you.
May I see the joy in knowing you through your Word.
May I learn to hear you voice through the discipline of prayer.
What a joy to be able to talk to you!
May I be mindful of my need to seek you with all that I am...
and not just my left overs.
In Your Name, Amen