“First it is an intention, then a behavior, then a habit, then a practice, then a second nature, then it is simply who you are.”  Brendon Burchard

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16  NKJV

1 Corinthians 9:26-27   So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.  

Many of us think about the goals we have and the disciplines we hope to adopt at the beginning of a new year.  This is good; goal setting and self-discipline are definitely Christian virtues.  The word circumspectly in Ephesians 5:15 means accurately, carefully, and diligently.  It also means to be dutiful.  The Biblical way to minimize the chaos in your life is to discipline your time.

People who seek religion just to join a salvation club are missing out on the joy of a daily disciplined life.  Did I just put joy and discipline in the same sentence?  I did, didn’t I? That’s because I am constantly discovering that a) God is a proponent of discipline and b) discipline has brought me enduring joy whenever I practice it.  

Don’t get me wrong, I am not the most disciplined person you know.  My point is not, “hey look at me, I’m a model of restraint and self-control.”  It’s unnecessary for me to say it, but I don’t bat 1000.  My point is, I have accepted the truth that human happiness and truly loving others with my life is behind the door marked “disciplined habits.”  Began 2019 by designing your life around a list of disciplined habits and I will guarantee you that your level of productivity, effectiveness, and joy will go up accordingly.

By the way, some of you who are struggling with bad habits you can’t break and over which you are constantly asking God to deliver you will be pleasantly surprised at how cultivating good habits will displace the bad ones.  I am not minimizing the need for divine help, but self-discipline is like building forms for a concrete foundation; if you don’t build the forms, having concrete poured out on the ground will be useless.  

Here are some goals and disciplines I recommend.

• Read the scripture and pray at least four times a week.

I write a prayer journal most every morning using the acronym A.C.T.S.  Adoration/Confession/Thanksgiving/Supplication.

• Start attending “Vehicle University,” which means listening to inspiration &  instructive talks via podcast, audible books, & YouTube while you drive.

If you are not doing this you are wasting a minimum of 10 hours a week that you could be learning and growing.  I use to listen to hours and hours of sports radio while driving during football season, but I cut it out and don’t miss it one bit.  It was a colossal waste of my most precious asset… time.

• Apply #2 to when you’re doing mindless tasks, like cleaning the kitchen.

BTW: Most of us these days go around with a two or three dollar beverage in hand, so I know we can afford to invest in audio books.  More power to you if you have time to sit and read one to two hours a day but most people can’t pull it off, that’s why I’m pushing the audio route.  Hey, “faith cometh by hearing.”

• Make up your bed in the morning.  

This way, even at the end of a lousy day, you will be able to at least see that you accomplished something that day.

Make random encouragement check-in phone calls & texts to people every day.

• Send handwritten notes of affirmation and pleasant reminders.

Confession: I have gotten undisciplined on this one but I plan to do better this year.  In this age of digital communication, a handwritten note, even with horrible penmanship like mine, represents a significant personal investment.

• Workout at least three times a week.

I like going to the gym, but do whatever works for you to significantly raise your heart rate, stretch your muscles, and break a sweat. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.”

• If you’re married, engage in intentional conversation with your partner fifteen minutes a day.
• Set the clothes out you’re going to wear the next day the night before.

If you’re like me, there’s a magic hour at night when you turn into a pumpkin but can still do fairly mindless tasks like picking out clothes; this preserves prime time for strategic planning and more important projects the next morning.

• Unless you already have to be up at four a.m. for work, get up an hour before you have to.  

The world doesn’t sleep in.  “When you take control of your mornings you take control of your days. You get to engage with the world under your terms. You can act instead of react.”  Hal Elrod from “Miracle Morning Millionaires.”  

I hope this list of healthy habits stimulates you to create your own list.  Feel free to borrow my list if you want.  Remember, wisdom and knowledge are the only priceless commodities on the planet that are available for free.