Discipline is often a key component in achieving goals and maintaining a balanced and productive life. The Internet is filled with quotes about discipline. Here are a few that resonate with me.
Jim Rohn – “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
Stephen R. Covey – “The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites, and passions.”
Vince Lombardi – “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”
Jim Rohn – “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.”
Zig Ziglar – “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.”
It won’t surprise us that Solomon has the best quote about wisdom in the Book of Proverbs.
My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
For the Lord reproves the one he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3.11-12)
Paul’s message to the Hebrews is another excellent quote about discipline.
“Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
A Common Theme
All of the quotes about discipline have one thing in common. Discipline is not something we particularly enjoy, but we definitely enjoy the fruit of it.
Many coaches tell their players, “I am making you do things that you don’t want to do, so you can get something that you all want.”
This is a summation of both the work and the blessing of discipline.
Celebration of Discipline
Richard Foster’s book, “Celebration of Discipline”, highlights the role of discipline in the spiritual life. He teaches that there are classic spiritual disciplines that are not ends in themselves.
Rather, these disciplines put us on a pathway where God will bring his grace to work in our lives. We do our part, God does his part, and we end up taking on the character of Christ.
To illustrate what I mean by spiritual disciplines, consider prayer and Bible study. These are not an end in themselves. Rather, their true purpose is to forge a connection with God.
Through this connection, God reshapes our sense of self, deepens our bond with Him, and guides our life’s path. Ultimately, we are transformed into the individuals we aspire to be and whom God envisions us to be.
Some disciplines are rather enjoyable. For example, I like prayer and Bible study. Other spiritual disciplines are harder to swallow, such as surrender.
When we surrender, we give up the right to always have our way. This takes various forms. It challenges our self-centered lifestyle to become a Christ-centered and others-centered way of living.
A Severe Mercy
The biblical understanding of discipline includes authority and guidance. Sometimes, it involves punishment for wrongdoing.
There are times when God’s discipline feels more like punishment than guidance. What are we to do when that occurs?
When we experience hard times, it’s good to remember what Proverbs has to say. We should not despise the Lord’s discipline, because we know that the Lord reproves the one He loves (Proverbs 3.11-12 paraphrase).
At a seminar I once attended, Richard Foster illuminated the pivotal role of discipline in our spiritual journey.
He emphasized that our foundation with God is built on the disciplines of prayer, worship, Bible study, and solitude. To this, we must add our openness to embrace the guidance God provides.
Foster highlighted another profound aspect: the inevitable hard times and challenges we face are essential components of God’s work in us.
He shared a powerful insight I’ll always remember: through these tough moments, God achieves in us what might be otherwise impossible.
So, we embrace God’s will, confident in the knowledge that it’s guided by His boundless love.
C.S. Lewis speaks of the role of difficult times as he writes, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.”
Regardless of the form our discipline takes, we must wholeheartedly embrace it.
This will mean consistently engaging in the spiritual disciplines, allowing God’s grace to mold us, or facing challenging times with the question, “God, what message do you have for me here?”
Above all, it’s crucial to recognize that discipline stems from God’s profound love. It’s bestowed upon us not as a burden, but as a blessing meant to mold us into the image of Christ.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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