Developing Self-Discipline
November 22nd, 2006
(By John MacArthur)
Practically speaking, how can a person develop self-discipline in his or her life?
Here are some things that have helped me through the years:
1. Start Small. Start with your room. Clean it, then keep it clean. When something is out of place, train yourself to put it where it belongs. Then extend the discipline of neatness to the rest of your home.
2. Be on time. That may not seem very spiritual, but it’s important. If you’re supposed to be somewhere at a specific time, be there on time. Develop the ability to discipline your desires, activities, and demands so that you can arrive on time.
3. Do the hardest job first. When you do that, you will find it easier to do the simpler tasks.
4. Organize your life. Plan the use of your time; don’t just react to circumstances. Use a calendar and make a daily list of things you need to accomplish. If you don’t control your time, everything else will.
5. Accept correction. Correction helps make you more disciplined because it shows you what you need to avoid. Don’t avoid criticism; accept it gladly.
6. Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to your feelings. Learn to do what you know to be right even if you don’t feel like doing it. Sometimes it’s even beneficial to deny yourself things that are acceptable to have, like a doughnut in the morning or dessert after dinner. Exercising such self-restraint helps you develop the habit of keeping other things under control. Cultivating discipline in the physical realm will help you become disciplined in your spiritual life.
7. Welcome responsibility. When you have an opportunity to do something that needs to be done, volunteer for it if you have talent in that area. Accepting responsibility can force you to organize yourself.
8. Spend less time reading blogs…
Ha! That reminds me, don’t I have a sermon I should probably be working on right now!
Good advice Dr. MacArthur!
I really need to hear this. Thanks!
9. A busy schedule requires more sleep, not less.
Thanks!
Establishing a routine of the important things to do and when has really helped me. So, what are the important things that really matter to you?
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Those are really great things, however it is just another list to hang on my refrigerator then realize I haven’t stuck with. I know what things I need to do, so here are my questions,
1. When you are in the moment; when the good or right thing is obvious but you just don’t want to do it, what ‘makes’ a person choose one action over another.
How do you convince yourself to just do or (in most of my situations), NOT do something. Example, I know I have to clear the kitchen table and wash the dishes. I KNOW it needs to be done and I’m the one to do it. But I refuse, I procrastinate and I just don’t do it. The consequences seem to have no impact. The lazy flesh wins everytime.
2. WHERE does self-discipline come from? As a fruit of the Spirit, where do I pick it? It has to come from something bigger than me, because SELF-discipline as I see it now, is relying on myself to stop or start myself. I can’t do it. I’m tired of the struggle so I avoid the situations (ie my dishes are at ceiling height) and the guilt that comes with failing to ‘follow the list of help”
Maybe you already covered this part and I missed it. I would really appreciate an honest evaluation.
I have to believe that self-discipline is won in small moments. I believe it is a fruit of the Spirit. But when it comes down to very practical daily decisions, I just do not pick the right choice or even the same choice on a daily basis.