Greater RewardSample

Deciding Your Disciplines 

You’ve made it to day seven—congrats! You’re always making strides in your journey to pursue the greater reward of discipline. But maybe you’re starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Maybe you’ve decided on about 30 disciplines you need to improve your life, but you don’t know where to start. 

As we mentioned on day two, remember to start small. If you try to change everything at once, you’ll likely end up frustrated and back at square one. So try to choose one area of your life where you can build a little more discipline. Then, after you’ve mastered it, add another. 

And if you’re struggling with where to start, think about these filters: 

1. Is it important? Choose something first that matters most. When you decide on your disciplines, make sure the end result is something significant. Maybe it’s spending more time with your family. Maybe it’s spending more time with God. Or maybe it’s important for all of your relationships to focus more on your physical health. Whatever area you choose, just ensure that it’s an area that matters to you. 

2. Is it wise? Not every discipline or habit may be the right habit for you. Just because you can start a new discipline doesn’t always mean you should. For example, if you are already overwhelmed and stressed out by all of your commitments, you probably shouldn’t make a discipline about adding something else to your schedule. Instead, you might want to be disciplined to say no to new commitments. Make sure that your disciplines are serving you well—not just something you can check off a list. 

3. Is it right? Choose what’s right over what’s easy. Sure, you could make a discipline to start a crazy diet and lose weight quickly. But is it really healthy? Is it really sustainable? Sure, you could make some financial disciplines if you compromise a little along the way. But would you really have integrity afterward? Your disciplines should be designed to do good and to be right. 

In light of all of those filters, consider investing in a discipline that is important, wise, and right. It may take a long time to yield results, but the impact of becoming more disciplined will be worth it. Don’t allow your life to happen by default. Choose to design your life based on the outcomes and habits that will get you somewhere you want to go. 

And above all, remember that discipline comes from God. In your weakness, His power is made perfect. And He is working in you, giving you the desire to do what pleases Him. So when you keep pursuing Him and doing what’s right, your consistency will produce results. But above all, it will help you get to know God and become the person He’s called and created you to be. And that’s how you can find the greater reward. 

Pray: God, thank You for giving us a spirit of self-discipline. Today, I ask that You would help me take every thought captive and make it obedient to You. Renew my mind with the truth of Your Word. Give me the discipline and desires to do what pleases You and serves others. Show me which area of my life needs more discipline, and give me the wisdom and courage to know how to start. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Watch Pastor Craig Groeschel’s accompanying message series, Greater Reward.