Discipline is an activity of faith toward the heart dream. It sacrifices momentary pleasure and establishes a lifestyle rhythm which defines our difference from the communal. Sometimes it stands alone and cold, sweats and groans whilst others lay in comfort or revel in pleasure. It says yes to the hard and no to the easy path. The cost of a disciplined life will always force us inward where the blazing spirit cries for release, burning down the walls of mediocrity so our inmost features can shine through for all the world to see.

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

1Peter 4:1

Our inner radiance can only be birthed in the pain of discipline. It is the labor of faith breaking the hold of flesh. But when dreams are fulfilled, pain is forgotten.

But this is the age of grace, Christ bore our pain on this cross. However grace does not mean pain free living. In fact courageous discipline will bring pain. That is because discipline does not come naturally. Weight training is an example of a will-war against the body’s natural tendency toward the path of least resistance. The last thing a body builder wants is to be comfortable. Pain is a sign of a successful workout. No pain, no gain, and the eventual gain will result in physical strength and fulfillment of a personal goal.

A fallen world constantly summons our fallen nature to give up the good fight, give in to the flow. "I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! (Proverbs 7:15-18)" It can be painful to say no to the soft warm bed of compromise. When you starve the flesh-hunger there is pain. Feed it and you will secure an immediate rush of gratification and well-being which can bring relief from depression and emptiness. Consequently, so many find it impossible to overcome addiction and compulsive behavior and move on to live productive, disciplined lives. Changing a pattern of living involves time, the emotional rewards of accomplishment and joy may not be felt for weeks. The quitting process can be filled with periods of emptiness and meaninglessness. A loss of vision and hope.

The discipline of fasting takes vision. The single reason many are incapable of journeying fasting’s lonely path is they lose the vision of why they fasted in the first place. Present pain overpowers future glory. The image of themselves free, healed, self-controlled, and refreshed fellowship with God is lost in present cravings. The fast becomes empty and oppressive, a law instead of a joyous journey. I will never fast again, as it served only to discourage and belittle, not lift and build strength over an out-of-control flesh.

Does the very word discipline give you shudders of apprehension? Yes, discipline acts as a law to your flesh, but to be successful we must not forget God’s promises. They are the stuff from which dreams are made, injecting eternal hope into any attempt you make in overcoming the flesh. His promises make discipline possible, without them we are reduced to trusting in our own strength. While in present pain it is easy to lose sight of presiding grace. And grace always nurtures vision. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13)." That is vision. And any time you feel you cannot do it, it is simply because you are looking at you and not Christ.

Fears, doubts and past failures all want to rise up any time you try to make hard changes. The highest act of discipline is to control your thinking. To believe you can. This is where we must fix our mind on Jesus. Without Him all our efforts fall to the ground and die. Without Him this would be just another useless positive thinking, self-help, inner awaking, get in touch with your feelings book. But because of Jesus, we can tap into an authority higher and more excellent than any addiction, granting even the weakest among us victory.

Discipline is an exercise of vision and faith. No matter how lost you feel in gaining control over your life, discouraged in trying to do anything against the cravings of the flesh, the Word promises that little you, in Christ, can do ALL things. Walking in discipline has nothing to do with how hard you try, but everything to do with where your mind is focused. That light at the end of the tunnel is none other than Jesus and He is with you in your darkest hour.

We know what it is to suffer for years in black hopelessness. The truths in this book come out of God meeting us in our darkest time. They work because they are living promises, filled with Holy Spirit power. You can become all that you and God want you to be because Jesus says so. The promises of God enable you to walk free in a fallen world. And you can fail as many times as you like, it will not change the promises of God for they are good and true.