“…surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run straight for the finishing line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches. I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified…” —1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (GNB)
As a Christian, do you know that there is no limit to what you can achieve if you set your heart to it? Do you know that there is nothing you cannot become if you set your heart to it? Well, in Christ Jesus anything is possible because all has been made available to us (Ephesians 1:3). But the truth is, to achieve or become anything, discipline is needed. I discovered that discipline is the key ingredient in achieving our life goals and dreams. If you have a dream but your hands are folded and you think the dream will fulfill itself, then it will never work out. You have to understand that consistent efforts must be made through discipline to see your dreams come to pass. Therefore, it is important to discipline yourself in different areas so that you can see that dream of yours come to pass.
You might say, “But sir, in which areas do I need to discipline myself to see my dreams come through?” Well, the first area you need to apply discipline is in your prayer life. No matter what you want to achieve in life, without a disciplined prayer life, you will experience a lot of difficulties. Someone once said, “Prayer is the womb that gives birth to any desire.”
The devil will stop at nothing to ensure that you are frustrated in your pursuits, so in most cases, he stirs up ugly situations to bring you setbacks. But if you are disciplined in prayer, no matter what he does, you will prevail over him. So you must discipline yourself to pray and pray at all times. Discipline will help you to be consistent and constant.
Another area where discipline is needed is in your goals and plans. I have seen a lot of people who are never stable in their dreams. One minute they want to do this, and the next minute they want to do something else. They are never able to focus on one thing. They find themselves trying to do whatever anybody else is doing, and this makes them unable to achieve anything. However, you ought to be different. Be disciplined in the things you want and be focused on it no matter what happens because it will help you to achieve in the long run.
If you can start with these two areas, all other areas where discipline is needed will be taken care of. Therefore, I urge you to be like Paul the apostle who said, “I discipline my body and bring it under strict control…” (1 Corinthians 9:27). No wonder he had the kind of results that he had. Praise God!
Today’s Rhema
Discipline will keep you consistent in your results!
Confession for the Day
Thank you, heavenly Father, for teaching me about discipline and giving me the grace to walk in it. I declare that in all that I do, I bring my body under subjection and by the power of the Holy Ghost, I prevail in all things in the Name of Jesus. Amen!
