Devo, Proverbs

Discipline Today Is Greatness Tomorrow

Discipline Today Is Greatness Tomorrow

ENGLISH
ENGLISH

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. — Proverbs 4:20-27

I think some people would fly over this section of Solomon's wisdom, assuming it's trivial. They would read over this quickly and almost negate his wisdom. But his wisdom is not trivial. Solomon understands that "trivial" matters produce significant success. He understands that simple repetitive behaviors have the potential to produce tremendous long-term gains.

For example, if you want to be really great at something, you'll have to make a bunch of small changes sustained over a long period of time. Consider an athlete. But not just any athlete, consider the best athlete you know. Pick one. Think about someone you might even consider a genetic phenom. Whoever that is, I guarantee that even though they are genetically gifted, they know the importance of discipline in a way that let's say average athletes do not. They wake and sleep on a regiment. They eat for function, not for taste. They carefully monitor their caloric input and output. They train for hours each day, stretching, working, and rehabbing their body. They have very specific workout plans that build over months. They watch and study films of others in their sport for hours on end. And then we, the spectator, are entranced by their performance. And then we think that if we played the same sport, got the same gear, and replicated the way they played, we could get the same results. You know what that is — it's laughable. Because the secret to their performance on the field is the hundreds of thousands of hours of discipline over decades that got them there! And this is true of anybody who is an expert in their field.

But here, Solomon applies this principle to his son's character. How a godly man should live. And he encourages three fundamental disciplines. First, the discipline of what he sees. Second, the discipline of what he speaks. Third, the discipline of how he walks. These are not trivial. What we look at, what we say, and how we walk are not trivial activities. They are fundamental, and they must be disciplined. And great men discipline them consistently. They discipline all three daily — eyes, mouth, and action.

Now, this can be overwhelming if you have never considered it. So here is your actionable for today. I want you to pick one of the three — your eyes, mouth, or action. And I want you to make a covenant of discipline with one of them. A covenant of discipline that you implement daily for a long time. For example, you could choose to make a covenant to never curse with your mouth ever again. And then, if this is your choice, I want you to write that in the comments below. I want your word to be a covenant between you and God. And then I want you to discipline yourself daily when it comes to the language you use. Now you are not going to be perfect right away, but that's okay. Because disciplining your words will take some time. But if you do this daily over a long period of time, it has the potential to produce tremendous long-term gains. Some of which you will only see further down the road. And then, let's do this. Let's talk in about ten years or so and hear how you are doing. For somewhere right about that 10-year point, someone will notice that you are doing something they want to do themselves. And then you can share this same wisdom with them, as I did with you, and as Solomon did to his son.

Son, and fellas, be disciplined today and be great tomorrow!

ASK THIS: Which one needs discipline — your eyes, mouth, or action?

DO THIS: Make a covenant of discipline with one and write it below.

PRAY THIS: God, receive my covenant of discipline. And may the Spirit give me strength!

PLAY THIS: Spirit Lead Me — Influence Music.

SPANISH

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51 thoughts on “Discipline Today Is Greatness Tomorrow”

  2. Cory Baron says:

    I need to be slow to anger and slow to speak and not judge others. I need to learn to respond appropriately with empathy.

  3. Eddie Ackerman says:

    I need to make a covenant with my eyes as they start the wandering in my mind and lead to a lack of discipline in my words and actions also.

  4. John Williams says:

    Life’s Defining moments orchestrated by God that lead to our destiny are often determined by the spiritual disciplines of our daily routine.

  5. Randy says:

    My eyes because they like to look at things they should not be seeing. I need to look at the path God has before me lest I fall!!

  6. Don says:

    I covenant to walk in the truth of God each day, find one truth of God and live it in my life

  7. Nick Simonetti says:

    My eyes. This world is full of temptations, I need to focus less on the pleasures of this world and focus only on the Cross.

  8. Keith says:

    My Eyes and mouth, to Control my words and not speak harshly but to build up people, to control my eyes from wandering into sexual sin,

  11. Dave says:

    But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
    Matthew 15:18

    I need to pause more and be a better listener!

  13. Jason says:

    Guard my eyes… it used to be the movie channels, HBO, Cinemax etc… now with streaming whatever movie you want whenever you want it.

  14. Phil Green says:

    I convene to remove profanity from my conversation, comments and thoughts.

  15. Tj says:

    I will make every effort to be slow to speak and speak with clarity and kindness. God, please send your spirit upon me to help me with this.

  16. Taylor says:

    Lord help me be disciplined in my health, mentally, spiritually and physically. I want to take care of this body I have been given so it is in the best shape possible to do your work through it.

  18. William says:

    Lord help me with my eyes. I don’t want to look at thinks I don’t need to and I want to look at people the way you do.

  19. Jim R says:

    When COVID started I began to work alone. I have found that frustration is expressed with a poor choice of words. Help me to speak words that are positive and encouraging. Not my words but Yours.

  20. Ed says:

    All 3 … they are connected
    God cleanse my heart and give me hope. My words, and thoughts towards others in this world that appear to be insane (those you have sent me to be salt and light towards) have been terrible as I’ve allowed frustration and despair creep in. And my eyes have sought things they need not look at as an escape from it all….. rather that to turn them to you. Forgive my failings Lord.
    I will start with the hardest one to tame… the tongue

  21. Bill says:

    I am making a covenant between God and I that I will speak to my wife in a loving and respectful tone of my voice and word choice.

  23. Andrew says:

    I need to take some regular and consistent steps to take care of my fitness. I have been undisciplined and it has been affecting me in many ways. I don’t want it to become a health issue or lessen my ability to serve well.

  26. Walter says:

    All three will be challenging , with God all things are possible.
    I choose my actions. So I may set examples for my 2 sons and my employees, and customers

  27. Sam says:

    Vince, this is probably the most difficult challenge you have put before me but, I am going to choose mouth and pray the others follow.

  28. David L. Trima says:

    God please help me with my actions. My actions will lead to me watching my mouth and eyes.

  29. Ken says:

    I will discipline my eyes, keeping them from looking at things that affect my heart.

  31. Trent says:

    I love to lift weights. Make a sport of it. It takes great discipline, focus, time, effort and with consistency over time you get to see slow but sure results. I am shifting my focus from my own vain glory to God’s plan and will. I need to implement what I have learned about working physical muscle and apply it to spiritual muscle. So I one thing is if you alternate major muscle groups to avoid over training you can work your entire body quite regularly. So I believe I will alternate eyes, mouth, and action in order to maintain a well rounded spiritual physique. My tongue is likely my weakest point so Lord God give me what I need to tame it. May my progress be a testament to your goodness and grace, oh Great Father God.

  33. Jeff says:

    God – I make a covenant with my eyes, “to look directly forward,” and keep my eyes focused on You, on purity, and not on what the world has to offer. Amen.

  38. Dave says:

    Lord help me to give people grace just as you give me grace on all three: eyes, mouth and actions.

  40. Jeffrey says:

    I am going to make a covenant with the way I speak- I do not swear but sometimes I do not speak to my wife with loving words, tone or message. I must use only kind, loving and uplifting words towards my wife.

  41. Robert Miranda says:

    Which one needs discipline — your eyes, mouth, or action? All three for me. Great stuff.
    Thank you, Brother Vince 🙏❤️

      • Robert Miranda says:

        Yo ! Amen. I was wondering can we do one without the others ?. So cool if we had all in the bag. 😃
        Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord 🙏❤️

  42. Kirk Vilhauer says:

    I am going to make a covenant to not swear anymore and choose my words wisely.

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