Training the WillSample

Yes, Lord!

If you want to grow in self-discipline, be a man who practices saying “yes” to the right things.

Amongst many other things, God invites mento say:

· “Yes” to repentance (Matthew 4:17)

· “Yes” to giving away one of our two shirts (Luke 3:11)

· “Yes” to spurring on our church to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25)

· “Yes” to loving our family (Ephesians 5:21-33)

· “Yes” to pursuing godly character (2 Peter 1:3-11)

· “Yes” to a hidden prayer life (Matthew 6:5-14)

· “Yes” to wise business practices (e.g. Proverbs 11:1; 12:24; 13:11; 28:19; etc.)

God wants men to say “yes” to many things, and it will take self-discipline to do so.

Take a few minutes today and prayerfully consider what “yes” God wants you to say.

One of my current “yes” decisions is to do more housework so I can love my wife well now that she has returned to work.

Another “yes" is to spend more time with those who don’t follow Christ and talk about Christ with them more often.

A third “yes” is to connect with God in silence, Scripture, and prayer most mornings.

What “yes” is Christ calling you to?

Let me get a bit proverbial and pass on some advice to help you on this road to self-discipline:

1) Trust God. This differentiates pursuing self-discipline as a follower of Jesus versus pursuing self-help. God is at work in and beyond your success and failure. He’s a good teacher!

2) Persevere. Expect to fail sometimes. Your passion to grow in self-discipline and Christlikeness will ebb and flow. Persevere in saying the right “yeses” and “no’s” regardless of how you feel and how often you stumble.

3) Training over trying. Use schedules and reminders. Cultivate accountability. Read habit development literature, like Atomic Habits by James Clear. Cultivate a “training in godliness” approach rather than a “trying for godliness” approach.

4) Fill up the vision tank. Keep reflecting on who Christ is and whom Christ is inviting you to become. Motivation is hard to muster without a compelling picture of where we’re going.

When it comes to self-discipline, there are no miracle methods—just wisdom, practice, and the hope and trust of God’s Spirit sanctifying us.

Your part is to practice saying “yes” to the right things as Scripture teaches and God leads. God will do His part. Let’s get to work!

Prayer: Lord, I trust You to lead me and change me. Help me know what next steps to take. Give me the passion and knowledge I need to keep going. Glorify yourself through my changing life. Amen.

Reflection: Take a few minutes to think about which “yeses” God is asking you to say and any steps He wants you to take in the following areas:

1) Knowing Him better

2) Loving others (family, co-workers, church, etc.)

3) Living wisely in the areas of health, finances, and sexuality

4) Character development