Discipline.
I think we all cringe a little bit at this word. While it isn’t necessarily easy to establish discipline in our lives, deep down we all truly desire some form of discipline. According to Merriam-Webster, “Discipline comes from discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple.” Being disciplined in ways that honor God actually goes hand in hand with being a disciple of Jesus. I think this is an incredible way to view discipline -- disciplining ourselves enables us to follow Him. It is motivating and convicting all at once.
As we become more disciplined in Christ, we become more like Christ. Luke 6:40 says, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Therefore, we must be diligent to follow Jesus’ example of discipline (Matthew 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12) if we desire to grow into disciples of Jesus.
And while we can acknowledge a desire for discipline, I think the hardest part is knowing where to start. So, we at The Front Porch would like to help you plant some disciplinary roots as this new year begins. This post is just one of three in a discipline series we will be sending out to you throughout the course of this month. We hope you it will encourage you and spur you on as you create and sustain consistent habits in your life as a Christ follower.
Below are three daily practices that can help you develop discipline in your life. Though these are useful steps for any goals you want to meet or areas in your life you seek to improve, these three practices can beautifully transform your relationship with Jesus.
Create a Routine
As author Ann Voskamp puts it in her book, The Broken Way, “Our loves are formed by our daily habits.” We must be diligent about the habits we are creating in our lives. While at first you may not love carving out time to read your Bible, you are training your heart and mind to love the Word just by prioritizing it as a habit in your daily routine. And as time passes, you will begin to enjoy it more than you ever expected. This is true about anything you add to your daily routine. While at first you may not feel as though you have the energy to go to the gym or cook that healthy meal after work, the energy you receive from doing these things will eventually begin to motivate you to keep going. You may feel like you have no extra time in your schedule, but if choose to make it a priority now, you will find yourself looking for creative ways to ensure that important time in the Word each day as you reap the benefits in your heart.
It takes about two weeks to form a habit. So, don’t be discouraged when you do not see or feel the effects right away. Sometimes it takes a few months to recognize but eventually your mind and body will shift to crave your new routine. It just takes time. Be consistent and stick with it!
Set Yourself up for Success
For me, setting myself up for success on a daily basis begins the night before. The two easiest things I have learned to do the night before is pack my lunch and pick out my outfit for the next day. When I do these things the night before, not only do I save myself time in the morning (and keep myself from being rushed and frazzled before the day even starts), but it helps me protect my time with Jesus. By making a plan, I’m choosing to be intentional. And it’s a discipline that can carry over into so many different facets of life. For example, if I am thinking of going for a run after work, I have found that if I pack a bag ahead of time, I am much more likely to actually go for a run. Why? Because I planned for it. Those days when I don’t intentionally plan for a run and have to go home first after work, I often decide I am too tired and end up not leaving the comfort of my couch. It takes a little extra work the night before, but I know I’m much more likely to go if I pack a bag.
For those of you resolution dieters, planning is also critical in reaching your goal. To be successful, you have to carefully plan your meals out ahead of time. Filling yourself with whatever you can find last minute will rarely produce a healthy outcome, just like skimming through something in God’s Word quickly just to get it done won’t give you the sustenance you need to grow properly either. Aiming for a healthier lifestyle, both nutritionally and spiritually, requires us to be intentional both with our time and how we fuel ourselves. Set yourself up for success by planning ahead.
Silence your Phone
This one may be the toughest step, but bear with me. If possible, set your phone on “do not disturb” before you go to bed, and do not check it again until after you’ve spent time with Jesus the next morning. Responding to texts and emails or checking social media apps first thing when you wake up cuts into that precious quiet time in the morning that can be spent with Jesus, and, more importantly, it indicates the true focus of your heart. Coming to Jesus first, before you do anything else, sets both your mind and heart on the right path for the day and grounds you in His truth before the rest of the world even has a chance to take over.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35
Just like with Jesus, true intimacy with God requires us to shut out those distractions and get to a place where we can be completely alone with Him. He’s ready and waiting!
Bonus!
While we’re on the subject, another practical tip is to set a cut off time for social media use at night so you don’t get lost in scrolling, losing valuable sleep time, without even realizing it. This also helps you fall asleep faster because you don’t have a lot of things running through your mind right before bed. Sleep is a crucial component to discipline. Lack of sleep creates a lack of energy that leaves you unmotivated and unprepared mentally and physically causing you to compromise many of the goals you have set for yourself.
While certain seasons of your life allow for more sleep than others, limiting your phone use can help tremendously no matter what stage of life you’re in. If you desire to be more present with those you love, leaving your phone in your purse or even in your car can be a great way to unplug and minimize distractions while you are with your loved ones. Try setting aside some time each day without your phone, and you will begin to see a shift in your heart and priorities.
My prayer is that you would be able to take these three basic practices and turn them into regular habits, ultimately allowing you to develop a more disciplined life and become more like Jesus. I am also confident that you will be able to see how discipline in one area will naturally flow into discipline in other areas of your life.
I cannot wait for you to take these how-to’s and dive in with me in pursuit of Jesus. I know these steps will both grow and reward you in more ways than you can imagine.
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5
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