Building the Discipline Bridge

Simple Mom calls it “Eating a Frog”, Biblical Womanhood calls it “Getting Back on Track”. Everyone seems to be talking DISCIPLINE. I believe that God calls us to be disciplined in our daily lives. Here are just a few verses that discuss discipline:

Psalm 94:12
Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law…

Deuteronomy 8:5
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.

Job 5:17
Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

A friend was once telling me of the most frightening event of her life. It was when a fierce tornado ripped through her small town in the mid-west. Rain poured down and debris (if you call whole trees debris) flew across the yard. Once the storm had past, rescue workers rushed in. Several areas were so badly damaged that people could not access the area safely. The rescue workers responded by building bridges to the demolished areas so, they could repair or rebuild the buildings.

This bridge building is a fitting analogy for Christians. Bridges provide an access to areas of our lives that are otherwise unreachable due to a major obstacle. That bridge has a name; discipline. Discipline bridges are not easy to build; they take time and effort but once in place, actually make the journey easier.

John MacArther offers some practical advice to building bridges of discipline:

1. Start with small things like a morning routine, housekeeping goals, etc. Conquering small things help prepare us for larger things.

2. Get yourself organized. If you don’t control your time, then someone/something else will.

3. Be on time. Being on time acknowledges your responsibilities and the importance of other people.

4. Keep your word. For me personally, this means learning to say “NO” to things that I cannot fully commit to.

5. Do the most difficult tasks first. Eat that frog, right?

6. Finish what you start.

7. Accept correction from others.

8. Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to your feelings and desires. For me, this has been financial. I am denying myself of several material pleasures such as new clothes or the periodic housekeeper, in order to achieve financial goals.

9. Welcome responsibility. Volunteer to do things that need to be done. This will force obligations into your life that need to be scheduled.

Good luck! Let me know ways that you have built discipline bridges!