I recently attended the World Leader Group conference and heard Craig Groeschel, a pastor who has over 100 churches connected to his church say, "The path to public image is always with private discipline."
He went on to say that, "We are what we repeatedly do."
Craig defines discipline as choosing what you want now and what you want most!
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 " Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."
Paul goes on to talk about getting the body in shape for the race which speaks of disciplining himself to win the prize. We know that this is speaking of eternal goals, but discipline is a part of that process, as well as discipline required for running a race.
Years ago I used to run from 3 to 5 miles a day, and loved it. Obviously I don't do that today, but the discipline of keeping ourselves in shape for the race in life and in ministry is real. We each own the responsibility of doing our part to run the race in our ministry, and running in such a way as to win.
Craig shared a few principles that I would like to share with you regarding making lasting changes and the process for discipline. He mentioned the following thoughts that I have come to see as very helpful in my decision-making and personal discipline.
1. Do first what matters most.
You know that the enemy of your soul would love to make you busy with what doesn't matter. In Teen Challenge it is so easy to get caught up in the chaos of the day with a student or their family, or in managing a conflict but miss what God truly purposed for us in that day. We too often allow distractions to keep us from what we truly need to be doing and that will make for the most productive day. The enemy wants nothing more than to keep you away from God's full purpose and dream.
I know you have goals and dreams you want to fulfill, and the decision is yours. Will you embrace the values needed to deliver the results you want? The difference between the values you embrace and the life you live equals the frustration you experience.
2. Do what is right over what is easy.
Doing what is right often is much harder than doing what is easy. It is easy to just go with the flow, eat what you want instead of what is good for you, or sit on the couch and watch TV instead of work in the garden. It is easy to get into a long conversation and procrastinate on the phone calls you need to make, or the course you need to prepare.
Doing what is right is generally harder, but pays better dividends in the end. You will get where you want to go and you will accomplish what you want to accomplish if you do what is right over what is easy.
3. Do now what will lead to what you want most.
If you have a goal of getting your staff to do more of the day-to-day work in Teen Challenge, then you have to delegate the task to them with the authority to accomplish the intended task. If you do not give them the authority, eventually you will lose your staff. They want to weigh in on the decisions before they buy into the vision. If your end goal is taking you somewhere, and you cannot get there alone, then you have to delegate. When you release authority you train leaders.
Training leaders is how you are able to multiply yourself and your efforts. Your organization will never grow beyond you, unless you share the load with others and give them opportunity to grow and learn from their experiences.
So often the difference between where we are and where God wants us to be is the pain we are unwilling to endure. It is painful to discipline ourselves and to step up and into all God desires for us. We own the responsibility, but the knowledge of the pain it will take is where the battle begins.
Remember that Christ in me is stronger than the appetites in me. Christ in me enables me to overcome each and every challenge.
Do first what matters most.
Do what is right over what is easy.
Do now what will lead to what you want most.
Follow these guidelines and you will make lasting changes.
Jerry Nance
