No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11).

Throughout the Bible, those who lacked self-discipline failed miserably at critical times in their lives. But those who had it became prominent men and women of faith.

Merriam-Webster defines discipline as “Control gained by enforcing obedience or order.” “Self-control.”

Cain lacked discipline, so he killed his brother. Noah was so disciplined that he endured the taunting of the people and built the Ark. Esau despised his birthright and sold it in exchange for a bowl of red stew. His lack of discipline cost him his blessings. Joseph had disciplined himself enough to run away from a beautiful woman and forgave his brothers when it would have been sweet revenge when they needed food from his storage. Samson was so weak in the feet that he crumbled throughout his life before women, though God had anointed him with incomparable physical strength. King Saul lost a kingdom for his family for lack of discipline. Wise King Solomon messed up in the end through a life of untamed lust for foreign women who infested Israel with their gods. God took Israel into exile because they lacked the discipline of keeping their focus on Him.

Jesus led a disciplined life and so went to the cross in humiliation for our redemption. He submitted His will to the Father in everything and became a servant for our sake (Phil. 2: 5-11). Judas Iscariot lacked the discipline of saying “no” to the lure of money and so became the betrayer and went into hell tormented. Paul led such a disciplined life that, despite his inner struggles, he conquered the flesh in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom. 7:25). Faced with all the hardships (2 Cor. 12: 16-33), Paul held his faith and could say in the end. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:6-7).

A successful life is all about self-discipline, without which is no sustainable victory. Proverbs says that “He who heeds discipline shows the way to live” (Prov. 10:17). That’s why the Holy Spirit gives us self-control as part of His fruit we bear if we yield to Him. So, in all your engagements, practice discipline and see how victorious you will be in life. 

A disciplined mind leads to a disciplined life, and a disciplined life leads to victorious living.