Self Discipline

Self-Discipline—Making God’s Way Your Way

If your parents or older Christians base discipline on what the Bible says, its ideas and values can enter deeply into your life. When this happens, discipline becomes more than a list of rules to follow. It becomes a matter of the heart. When biblical values shape your thoughts and desires, it will show in your behavior. Read the Bible story about Daniel and his friends. Think about the choices they made to practice self-discipline. Think about these questions as you read Daniel 1:1–21:

What choices did Daniel face? (Daniel 1:8)
How did Daniel solve his problem? (Daniel 1:12–13)
What were the benefits of his self-discipline? (Daniel 1:18–20)
Make It Personal

What are the areas of your life in which you should be more self-disciplined?
What is your plan for doing that?
Do you have friends who will help you?
What benefits could you gain from being more self-disciplined?

Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice? She’s taken her stand at First and Main, at the busiest intersection. Right in the city square where the traffic is thickest, she shouts, “You—I’m talking to all of you, everyone out here on the streets! Listen, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up! Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well, I’m telling you how to live at your best. My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth— I can’t stand the taste of evil! You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable will be twisted or skewed. You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds; truth-ready minds will see it at once. Prefer my life-disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
Proverbs 8:1‭-‬11 MSG