Scripture
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
HEBREWS 12:11
Quotes/Color
“Each day you must choose… the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”
Eric Mangini
“Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”
John Wooden
“The harvest of old age is the recollection and abundance of blessings previously secured.”
John Wooden
“You cannot attain and maintain physical condition unless you are morally and mentally conditioned. And it is impossible to be in moral condition unless you are spiritually conditioned.”
John Wooden
Context
A few absolute all-time quotes by one of my heroes, John Wooden…
When do you want your rewards in life? Do you want a small reward now… or a big reward later?
When do you want pain in your life? Do you want it consistently, in small increments now… or in the form of a knockout punch later?
Application
Hebrews 12:11 tells me that if you’re a disciple of Christ, you live a life of discipline. God rewards discipline. In other words, as a Christian, you live an intentional life.
Each moment in your day serves a purpose. Each conversation you have serves a purpose. Each night off you have serves a purpose (even if that means being disciplined to rest.)
If you stumble through life without purpose, without focus and without discipline… If you consistently neglect hard decisions and act like they don’t exist… If you put off difficult conversations because you dread the feeling of discomfort and opt for passivity instead… If you brush aside small moments of doing the right thing that are the slightest bit tiresome… Boy will they will all add up and come back to bite you in the butt stronger than ever, eventually.
Evaded pain today doesn’t disappear. It is just a big cash deposit into the First National Bank of Pain Tomorrow.
“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – [but] it’s painful [later on]!”
There is always going to be a tradeoff. Pain/discomfort is inevitable (sorry, very depressing) and reward is inevitable (that’s better, Bryan). It’s DISCIPLINE (or lack there of) that decides when each is felt… Let’s apply this in a few areas of life to put some meat on these bones:
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Physical
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- Choose the discomfort of movement and exercise TODAY over the ache of stillness and “fluffiness” TOMORROW.
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- Harvest a long life of health.
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Relationships
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- Choose the discomfort of vulnerability that leads to deep friendships TODAY over the heaviness of loneliness TOMORROW.
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- Harvest lifelong meaningful relationships.
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Conversations
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- Choose a needed uncomfortable conversation TODAY over festering resentment TOMORROW.
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- Harvest reconciliation and mended relationships.
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Mental
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- Choose the pain of pressing in and learning something new even when you’re tired TODAY over the repercussions of ignorance TOMORROW.
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- Harvest growth and the benefits of added knowledge.
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Financial
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- Choose the pain of telling yourself no and denying your endless desires TODAY over the anxiety and helplessness of living beyond your means TOMORROW.
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- Harvest abundance and a feeling of freedom.
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Spiritual
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- Choose to go against your nature and press into God’s word TODAY and every day over the consequences of spiritual immaturity TOMORROW.
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- Harvest wisdom.
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There is a reward to discipline. Small investment over time leads to a plentiful harvest.
“There will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in [discipline].”
Something to Chew On:
- Where are you seeing results in your life that you’re not satisfied with? Among your friendships, relationships, health, knowledge, walk with the Lord, finances… Could you attribute any of the bad results to a lack of discipline on your part?
- Where can you practice more discipline in your life today, delay gratification, and hold out for a better reward tomorrow?
- Where can you be more intentional in your life? What part of your day? What relationship? What involvement?
Great Value Proverb:
Discipline x Time = Results