Discipline isn’t punishment — it’s the path God uses to shape us into who He created us to be. When we surrender our habits, routines, and choices to Him, we become living offerings of worship.

  • Discipline is worship.

When we choose an undisciplined path, we are choosing worldly desires over what God desires. Being disciplined in our daily lives by abstaining from what everyone else thinks is fine is the key to success. It’s hard, for sure. Most people will think you’re boring, too religious, too “good,” too upidy if you will, and you will likely be ostracized for not following the crowd. If we claim to be Christlike, then we should want to be like Christ. He didn’t follow the crowds. He didn’t shame anyone for the sins they committed. He sat with sinners and loved on them, spoke kindly to them, and even protected them. Shouldn’t we do the same?

  • When you wake up early, even though you want to stay in bed.

We all love five more minutes of sleep, right? Can I get an AMEN? That blissful moment of early morning quiet before the day starts can elude us most of the time. Especially when we have little ones underfoot that need a bit more attention and time. As the seasons of life change, we go from hectic mornings with a toddler or 2 and a baby to a teen and a preteen, on up to adulthood, our perspective changes. I long for those early slow mornings. I get up before everyone else, enjoy a cup of coffee, and say a gratitude prayer, often spending a few minutes outside or sitting quietly reading my bible, talking to God, and preparing for the day ahead. I can get lost in the beautiful simplicity. Making this a priority has changed the way I parent, lead, discipline, love, and honor God.

  • When you control your body and emotions, even when you want to let them have it.

This one is hard. Let’s take a minute to face the reality that people can be incredibly mean and heartless. Life is already hard enough, full of ups and downs. Then add “not everyone has your best interests at heart.” When you really want to throw a brick at them, say what is really on your mind or get back at them, but you have disciplined yourself to have self-control and resist those temptations. That’s winning!

  • When you say no to sin and choose the path less traveled.

Committing sin comes easily to us because, in truth, we are sinful by nature. So obviously, it is going to take time and discipline to fight the urge to follow the crowd. Say you’re trying to eat healthier, get leaner, or gain muscle mass. It takes hard work, dedication, discipline, and grit to keep it up. You could spend a year going to the gym, counting macros, and eating healthy to get lean the way you envisioned. Then vacation hits, you eat whatever, because why not, you’re on vacation- you don’t go to the gym, and you gain some unwanted pounds. Been there? Yeah, me too! Walk of shame. One week can wreck what you’ve spent a year developing. This is exactly how sin works. You might say, “Everyone else is doing it; how bad could it be, really?” or my not-so-favorite, “Ah, it’s not that bad…” If you ever think those words, don’t walk, RUN!

  • When you do all things as if you’re working for the Lord, not to please man or out of selfish desires.

Ah, selfishness. We are such a selfish and lazy generation. Everything we want at the click of a button. Instant gratification at an all-time high, social media trends, influencers on every other reel. Buy this pill, cream, tea, gadget to enhance this, that, and a woofle ball bat. ChatGPT, AI, robots. OH MY! Push over anyone who’s in your way just to get to the top, no matter the cost. It occurred to me that this year and future years, Doctors will be graduating from college using AI and ChatGPT to assist them. Let that sink in for a minute. Okay, minutes over. I don’t disagree with AI or ChatGPT; I mean those pictures, y’all, greatness!! When used as a tool, it’s a great asset. I use it too, as a tool, not as a replacement for my brain. We have lost the grit for good old-fashioned hard work. I say this on repeat in our house: “Do all things if you’re working for the Lord, not to please man or out of selfish desires.” I want that sentence so ingrained in our kids that they don’t even have to think; it just comes naturally.

  • When you do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Simply put, and also something we say on repeat in our house: “Outdo others in honor.” That comes from Romans 12:10: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” I like how the ESV says it best. Think about it like this. If you’re so busy outdoing others in honor, you don’t have time to worry about doing wrong.

  • You’re not just improving yourself.

In my experience, when I follow the above, others see it and want to be better themselves. I often get the question: What’s your secret? My answer: “I try my best to deny myself and follow God.” Am I perfect at this? Not in the slightest. But I try. God doesn’t require perfection; He asks for our love and faith in Him.

  • You’re honoring God.

That pretty much sums it up. I am honoring God when I do what He wants me to do, live the best I can for Him, honor His commandments, deny myself, and live faithfully, righteously, and according to His will, not my own. When I live by my wants and desires, I tend to get into trouble. I don’t like that. Neither does God.

  • Key Verse

    "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

    Romans 12;10 (ESV)