Proverbs: A Strong Man Is WiseSample

If you want to be great at something, you have to make a bunch of small changes and sustain them over a long period of time. Simple, repetitive behaviors have the potential to produce tremendous long-term gains.

Consider the best athlete you know. I guarantee that even though they are genetically gifted; they know the importance of discipline in a way that average athletes do not. When we, the spectators, are entranced by their performance, we might think that if we owned the same gear and imitated the way they played, we would get the same results. But the real secret to their performance on game day is thousands of hours of discipline over many years.

In Proverbs 4, Solomon applies this principle to his son’s character. He encourages three fundamental disciplines:

First, the discipline of what he sees.

Second, the discipline of what he speaks.

Third, the discipline of how he walks.

What we look at, what we say, and how we walk are not trivial activities. Great men discipline all three daily: eyes, mouth, and action.

This can be overwhelming if you have never considered it. So, here is your action step for the final day of this reading plan: Pick one of the three—your eyes, mouth, or action—and make a covenant of discipline with it.

For example, you could choose to make a covenant to never curse with your mouth again. Your word is a covenant between you and God. Declare it by sharing it with someone. Then discipline yourself daily when it comes to the language you use.

You are not going to be perfect in your practice right away, but that’s okay. Disciplining your mouth will take time. But if you do this daily over a long period, it will become a habit that changes you from the inside out.

Ten years from now, someone else will notice how disciplined you are and will want the same for themselves. Then you can share this same wisdom with them, like Solomon did with his son. Be disciplined today and be great tomorrow.

ASK THIS: Which one do you need to discipline the most today: your eyes, mouth, or action?

DO THIS: Make a covenant of discipline between you and God.

PRAY THIS: God, receive my covenant of discipline. May your Spirit give me the strength to live it out.

This plan is presented to you by Proverbs: A Strong Man is Wise by Vince Miller. To learn more about this book, please click here.