Discipline is a Choice

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By Stacey Pinz

In the Power to Change: Mastering the Habits that Matter Most, Pastor Craig Groscel said, “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now. . . The path to public success is paved in private discipline.”

The word discipline is strange because it is one of those words that has both a positive and a negative connotation, like when you are grounded or punished, you are being disciplined – this is that negative meaning, but when someone is referred to as a disciplined student, a disciplined athlete, or a disciplined musician, we all know it means that person practices a lot and puts a lot of time and energy into their studies, sport, or instrument; that’s that good type of discipline.

Both types of discipline will always be present in our lives, and Craig Groscel is saying that choosing the positive type of discipline will help us to have more opportunities to avoid the negative kinds of discipline.

I have always considered myself fairly disciplined. I am a goal-oriented person; I set goals, and then I create plans to accomplish those goals. I know that following those plans takes discipline. For example, when I was a student, I always strived to do the best I could on every assignment – even the small ones; I was one of those students who went after every single point; I know I annoyed my teachers (so later, when I became a teacher, I could empathize with those students). Additionally, in the area of self care, I have gone through various seasons of discipline where I strive to exercise daily, eat well, and get enough sleep (admittedly, sleep is an area where I have always struggled to be disciplined; I’m a bit of a night owl, which I typically regret in the morning).

It also takes discipline to grow in our relationship with Jesus. Specifically, the discipline of reading our Bible and praying are essential for growing in our faith and our relationship with Jesus. Spending time in the Word as well as spending time in prayer helps to foster a deeper connection with Jesus in several ways. First, we can better understand His Teachings. The Bible contains the teachings, parables, and life stories of Jesus. Reading allows us to understand His message, values, and the way He lived, which forms the basis for following His example and teachings in our own lives. Prayer is a means of communicating with God.

Through prayer, we can express our thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires to Jesus. It's an opportunity for open and honest dialogue with Him, fostering a sense of intimacy and connection. This also allows us to seek guidance when we are facing life's challenges, decisions, or dilemmas. In fact, turning to the Bible and prayer provide guidance and wisdom from the Lord. His teachings and the guidance of the Holy Spirit help us to make choices aligned with His will for our lives. The Bible outlines the virtues and qualities that Jesus exemplified – love, humility, compassion, and forgiveness; reading about these qualities and praying for them help us to cultivate a Christ-like character.

Regularly reading the Bible and praying will deepen our faith in Jesus. As we encounter His words and reflect on His presence in our lives through prayer, our belief in Him grows stronger. Additionally, through prayer, we entrust our concerns, fears, and hopes to Jesus. This act of trust strengthens our bond with Him as we rely on Him for support and guidance.

During difficult times, reading passages from the Bible and praying bring comfort, and many verses offer words of encouragement and reassurance in times of adversity. The Bible teaches that through faith in Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, individuals can experience transformation by aligning our hearts, minds, and actions with Christ's values and purpose. Prayer provides an opportunity to express gratitude to Jesus for His sacrifice, love, and blessings in our lives, and this act of thankfulness deepens our appreciation for Him.

Participating in group Bible studies and prayer sessions with fellow believers enhances our sense of community and shared faith, and these communal experiences strengthen our relationship with Jesus as we worship and learn together.

Building a relationship with Jesus is an ongoing journey that requires discipline (there’s that word again) and a desire to draw closer to Him. Regularly reading the Bible and engaging in prayer are powerful tools in this spiritual journey, helping us to grow in our understanding of Jesus and our connection to Him.

I know the benefits of reading my Bible and praying, and while I have strived to be disciplined in these practices, sometimes I fall short, and sometimes I get distracted. You see, the thing about the positive kind of discipline is that even though it eventually leads to what we want and what we need, it is hard work.

Hebrews 12:11 says for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

All of the disciplines that we have practiced up until now, and maybe for some of us we need to practice some disciplines more than others, but all of these disciplines have served the purpose of helping us to grow into who we want to be someday (and this is a never-ending process called sanctification), in addition to who we are today, like Craig Groscel says.

I am sure most people can agree that we are much different today than who we were 10 or 15 years ago because of our discipline, our growth, and our private practices.

The thing about discipline is that it never stops. Sure, parents and teachers are not necessarily the people who discipline us anymore, but life does. If we are disciplined people who practice healthy disciplines, the hope is that life will not need to discipline us so much because we have put into place practices that have helped us in our lives.

The work it takes to have the life that we dream of and the life that God plans for us has taken discipline to this point, and it will continue to take discipline.

It is important to keep discipline in all areas of life because losing balance in our practices can throw our progress off and cause us to stumble, which we will do at times. However, remember “Just because we fell one time doesn’t mean we can’t get up and let our light shine.”

Psalm 37:23-24 says “The LORD directs the steps of the Godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.”

God has wired me to be a disciplined person, in general; however, it still takes effort. I still need to pray that God will help me to continue to press into Him and feel magnetized to Him; I never want that to ever go away. I need God’s help to get through some of those grueling exercise videos, and I pray that He will guide me and teach me as I read and study His word, and that He will help me when I have nowhere else to turn and no one else to seek. During those difficult days, I am so thankful that I know, without a doubt, that my Father in Heaven is with me and guiding me no matter what storms I may be facing, and I am so grateful that when there are good days (and there are SO many good days for which to be thankful), I know from where that goodness comes!

I know I need to continue to stay disciplined in continuing to nurture that relationship with God because without that presence, life can feel isolating and overwhelming sometimes as we strive towards our own goals and plans, and sometimes the pressures of discipline can weigh heavily on us and make us feel anxious and lonely, but God has promised us that He is always with us, and he is holding us up and guiding us, if we are disciplined allowing him.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)

And “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

God’s word is full of messages like this – promises that no matter what the world throws at us, God is carrying us, and God is helping us to stay disciplined.

Discipline is hard. Life is hard, and we will experience pain that is outside of our control because that is part of living in this broken world. But the good thing is that we have hope in Jesus.

In Matthew 11:28 it says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We do not have to worry when we face challenges because we always have someone on our side.

Some pain that comes from the punishment kind of discipline of life is within our control: don’t lie, don’t cheat, don’t steal, don’t break the law – you will be disciplined; you will be punished.

Remember, “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now. . . The path to public success is paved in private discipline.”

Instead, put into practice a life of faith and gratitude. Tell the truth, be honest, be charitable when you can, and follow the laws. Serve others the way Jesus served, and seek His will first, and the rest WILL fall into place (this is a reminder for myself, too).

My hope and prayer for those reading this Blog is that you will be disciplined in the positive ways so that you do not have to live with the regret of negative discipline later.

Reference

Groeschel, C. (2023). Power to Change: Mastering the Habits that Matter Most. Zondervan Books.