Overcoming [with] Discipline

“The Surprising Key to Freedom”

Good afternoon, Writer! This month we’ve been looking at obstacles to our writing, and this week, we want to take a look at one that might make you squirm…discipline. Sometimes, we struggle in our writing because of a simple lack of discipline. But here’s the good news. Discipline is like exercise. The more we do it, the stronger we get. And—just like exercise—the methods of discipline needed are different for every person. Let’s take a look.

Discipline in History

St. Francis of Assisi led a very disciplined life. He took a vow of poverty and a vow of celibacy that rocked his world—and made lasting impact on Christianity for ages to come. That is some serious discipline. With some excellent fruit! But, before you run off and vow poverty and celibacy for the sake of completing your next novel—did you know this? The era that St. Francis lived in was a time of great decadence and immorality. The disciplines the Lord led St. Francis to spoke directly to his world at the time, calling hearts back to a true and pure love for God.

And it’s the same with you, writer. Often, your areas of discipline will be in a place where you’ve struggled—maybe where your whole family, or city, or culture has struggled. Let’s continue.

Discipline in the Bible

Paul is another example of discipline in the Bible. Paul called the Corinthians to a lifestyle of discipline. He admonished them that all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial, exhorting them to love one another. He pointed to his own life as an example. He became all things to all men that he might win as many as he could, and he buffeted his own body (disciplined it) so that he would not be disqualified after all his preaching. (1 Corinthians 9)

If you want an excellent study in spiritual and physical discipline, read the epistles! But to summarize his thoughts, Paul—a born Pharisee and legalist—disciplined himself to reach as many people as he as he could with the Gospel. This called for great physical discipline and endurance and also for great personal, mental, and spiritual discipline as he willingly studied and stretched himself into a whole new understanding of God in order to demonstrate the truth and freedom of the Gospel to gentile believers of all kinds. Which was no small theological leap for a “Pharisee of Pharisees.” There was a reason he spend so many years in quite study after his conversion!

And here’s the interesting thing. Sometimes, like Paul, we need discipline in freedom in order to live a fruitful life. The words “freedom” and “discipline” might sound antithetical, but they are actually two sides of the same coin. Let’s keep looking.

Discipline in Life

I began learning about discipline early in my married life as I struggled—with a part time job working from home—to keep my 1,080 square foot home clean. I knew I had no good excuse…so I launched on a journey to turn my small home from a continual burden into a boon. What I started in reality was a journey of discipline. On that taught me to say “no” to the fears that cause me to keep so many things “just in case” and to say “yes” to steadily building small habits and a mentality of proactivity and consistency that truly transformed my home—in time—into a haven. And now those disciplines are uplifting and a joy to do.

And that’s another thing, writer. Discipline is often learned in a progression of baby steps. We don’t go to the gym and start dead lifting! We start with a few crunches…some pushups…a few gentle machines with lower weights… and we gain strength as we go.

Discipline in Your Life

Discipline requires that we be honest about where we are. If St. Francis hadn’t recognized his own excess—he would never have agreed to poverty or celibacy. If Paul hadn’t recognized his own error as a Pharisee, he never would have submitted to the mental discipline that spurred him to accept and teach the law of liberty in Christ. If I hadn’t acknowledged the disastrous burden of my “normal” home, I would never have began to discover the freedom that comes from a simpler lifestyle. But as we each took that step, we began on the path to discipline, which—if you notice—also lead to…freedom.

Because here’s the interesting thing. So often our lack of discipline is a form of “soft bondage,” where we are enslaved to habits and patterns and sometimes even relationships that keep us from the things we truly love and truly desire to do. Discipline’s not sounding quite as bad as it did earlier, is it? If you don’t believe me, let’s take a look at scripture…

• • Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
  • Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God… 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 12:1-2, 10-11
  • You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Galatians 5:13
  • Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. – Proverbs 10:17

You see, writer? Discipline is really about freedom and fulfillment. When we discipline our children, it’s so they can grow up to become productive and freed members of society who aren’t dependent in unhealthy ways on others. In the same way, discipline can help us to grow up—into our best, most fruitful and fulfilled lives. It is truly worth the temporary pain of change!

Because here’s the final thing. Discipline is simply what we practice. Over and over again. And our practices have the ability—just like with St. Francis and Paul—to change the world. And in case you are wondering if my clean home impacted the world, let me finish the story briefly.

A few years after I’d begun to discipline myself to declutter and maintain a clean home, I felt the Lord call me to an extended stay in Uganda to teach Ugandan staff members of the ministry we worked with how to share their testimonies through writing, photojournalism, and videography. The only catch was that we needed to rent out our home, fully furnished, to offset our costs. If I had not disciplined myself earlier, I would have missed this opportunity, and the Ugandans, who are now sharing the glory of God in their testimonies with partners around the world, would have not been equipped with what they needed…until someone else who was ready and prepared answered the call!

Where to Start with Discipline

Never underestimate how your choice for personal discipline will impact people and the world around you! The way we do a thing is the way we do anything, and one step of obedience opens the door for another. After all, he who is faithful with little is entrusted with more. (Luke 16:10) And so often, the impact of our lives has a much greater reach than we can even imagine. So consider today: what discipline might you need to embrace in order to fulfill your call? Not sure? Here are some ideas to get you started!

1. 1. Honestly assess where you are. Do you have a few bad habits tripping you up? Is there a skill you need to learn? An unhealthy relationship to change? Take some time to prayerfully soul-search. This is your first step toward freedom.
   2. Get a clear picture of what freedom looks like. What would freedom in this area of life look like? This is your “why.” This will help keep you motivated in the moments when you feel overwhelmed.
   3. Identify the change you’d like to make. What kind of discipline would bring you the freedom you need? Ask God for wisdom during this step!
   4. Do a little research. If needed, prayerfully explore tools and methods to grow in this area of weakness. Find scriptures and people who’ve done what you want to do and learn from them.
   5. Brainstorm some baby steps. How can you begin building this discipline in your life? Once you have a list, choose one and commit to practice it faithfully for at least a month. (If you forget, give yourself grace and start again the next day!)
   6. Get in the habit of “reviewing.” Review your goals and how you are doing achieving them often when learning a new skill or discipline. Often, we will need to iterate or adjust until we find our new stride. Once we do, and that step becomes normal, you’re ready to add the next!

I hope these encourage you today, writer. Discipline is your friend—because freedom is its goal. The freedom you gain through growing in discipline will not only bless you, but expand your reach to bless countless others through your life and words. So, if you find yourself in need of some discipline today, don’t be discouraged! You are standing in front of a door of opportunity! I encourage you, though it may feel uncomfortable at first, you have no idea what blessings are waiting for you—and for the world—on the other side!

#discipline #freedom #babysteps #glory #GodIsGood #EveryWriterWriting