NO ONE ELSE WILL

"To learn, you must love discipline." Proverbs 12:1 NLT

In my devotion this morning, I was reading from a book that I received from my kids on Father's Day entitled, The Best of God is in the Small Stuff. It spoke about a word that we cringe at: discipline. I wanted to share part of the devotion with you today.

"The want of whatever it is to be bigger, better, or faster, equals material want. Does outward material things really make us happy? This is a question that we often hear asked in different circles of life. This question rears us to discover that outward material things doesn't really make us happy. So the next thing to do is tune inward. Along the way we decide that it's what's inside that counts. Consequently, many of us have embarked on an inward journey, seeking to simplify our lifestyles while increasing our joy. At least that's the goal, because that's what the simplicity gurus are telling us.

The idea of simplifying your life is a good one, but the problem is that we are attacking the goal with the same unbridled methods we've always used. The key is balance, consistency and perseverance, all of which come from one thing: discipline. We want it all, and we want it now, whether it's an abundance of possessions or an abundance of simplicity. But nothing worthwhile comes quickly and nothing worthwhile comes without discipline. Over life's long haul, discipline works in every dimension of your life: financial, physical, mental and spiritual. If you've ever tried to get rich quick, tried to lose weight by taking a pill, tried to get knowledge by cramming at the last minute, or attempted to get close to God by asking for a miracle, you know what it's like.

It's easy to get caught up in the trap of quick results when you focus on the results rather than the journey. The truth is, the joy is in the journey, in the daily discipline of growing in the details of your mind, body and spirit. The only way to bring abundance to your life - the kind of abundance that gives you joy - is to bring discipline into your life, no one else will." (The Best of God is in the Small Stuff)