Discipline

There are two broad definitions for discipline: 1) training and 2) punishment.  First, let’s focus on the definition of training:  

1. Training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. An activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the keyboard is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. The rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
4. Behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.

My definition is consciously performing a behavior or task consistently.  Structure and self discipline equal freedom.

If I was in a room with one hundred middle and high school students:

1. How many do you think would have a Facebook page?  
2. Of those with a Facebook page, how many would have started a 30 day challenge?
3. Of those 30 day starts, how many do you think finished the challenge correctly? 

Another challenge... more like a goal… a 30 day goal.  The goal is to study an apple for fifteen minutes a day for 30 days.  You can choose any apple, any size, and any color you want.  It can be real or fake.  This simple exercise will provide structure for you to develop new skills.  In time you will come to know that specific apple intimately.  You will eventually develop the skill to recognize your apple from a bin of similar apples.

To benefit from this exercise there are two critical elements. Study the apple in the same place and at the same time every day.  Make sure your study area can remain unchanged during the month.  These two elements are very important because to vary one or both of the elements will sabotage your efforts.

Discipline requires commitment and sacrifice. To be disciplined requires priorities to change.

There is no integrity in easy.  Everybody can do easy.  Easy seems to provide pleasure.  People instinctively avoid pain and descend towards pleasure.  Pleasure always makes you feel better.  Pleasure has the ability to help you forget.  There is good pain and bad pain.  Pleasure is bad pain disguised as fun.  Pleasure tells you it will make you feel better.  Pleasure is temporary.  Pleasure will fade.  Pleasure will always abandon you. 

Discipline might be painful because you are doing things most people don’t do. To pursue what God wants for you… will have to do what most aren’t willing to do.  You are going to have to become uncomfortable.  Future generations of your family will thank you for leading a disciplined life.

Discipline is not convenient.

Discipline is not glamorous.

Discipline will go unnoticed (except by you).

Discipline is lonely.

It’s hard work nobody undertakes but you.
It’s unspectacular work nobody notices but God.
It’s inconvenient work nobody appreciates but God.

Godliness is developed through a series of decisions consistent with biblical principles. 

Have a good and godly day.