Discipline seems like a hard word, but discipline is your lifeline, something that you learn to

embrace and thank God for as you grow in him. The apostle Paul links the idea of discipline with
spiritual life: “Train yourself for godliness”—referring to a spiritual workout— for “godliness is of
value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim
4:7–8). A Christian woman’s life is about bringing her will and every area of her life under
submission to God’s will.

What is discipline?
Discipline is defined as "training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior."

1) What is spiritual discipline?

The term “spiritual disciplines” is not in the Bible. Most of the times we read the word
“discipline” in the Bible it is in conjunction with reproof or correction using the Hebrew
word “muwcar” (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-15) or the Greek word “paideia” which
basically means instructing in the way one should go. It is used of training or disciplining
children (Eph. 6:4; Heb. 12:9-10) and of God’s discipline of us, His children (Heb. 12:5-11).
This is not the type of discipline people generally refer to with the term “spiritual
disciplines.”

Biblically Defining “Spiritual Disciplines”

The closest use of the word “discipline” in the Bible to how “spiritual disciplines” is
generally used in Christian circles can be found in 1 Timothy 4:7 where the Apostle Paul
exhorted Timothy, “train yourself to be godly.” The New American Standard Bible words
it, “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” It uses the Greek word “gymnazo”
from which we get the English word “gymnastic.” Hence, this kind of discipline is more
training, practicing, or exercising to become fit.

Paul goes on to say that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all
things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:7-8).
Physical training for athletes involves making choices to exercise, intentionally, with a
sense of devotion to make it an on-going and regular part of their lives. They often have
to sacrifice other activities to spend sufficient time working out to become and stay fit. If
we can be so devoted to that which produces physical fitness, why wouldn’t we have that
same kind of devotion, yet even more, to that which leads to godliness, making us
spiritually fit?

In accordance with this usage of the word “discipline”, we could then say that spiritual
disciplines are those practices that we impose on ourselves to make us spiritually fit or
healthy. We are putting structure into our lives so as to be intentional in our quest to
grow spiritually, to get to know God better through the various means described in
Scripture that can lead to such growth.

“Spiritual disciplines can be described as those behaviors that augment our spiritual
growth and enable us to grow to spiritual maturity. This process of spiritual growth and
development begins to take place the moment a person encounters the risen Christ and
comes to Him for salvation”.

“The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual
growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits
of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.”
2) Why is spiritual discipline important?

The purpose of spiritual discipline is the development of our inner being, that which has
been transformed by Christ at salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Redeemed believers have
experienced the total renewal of the whole person from within, involving differences in
thought, feeling and character that may be slower to be evident in our outward behavior.
This is what Paul had in mind when he spoke of taking off the "old self" and putting on
the new, “which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians
3:9-10).

3) What are the “barbells” and “push-ups” that build spiritual strength? What exercises
can be used to train the soul?

Characteristics of Spiritual Discipline (Don Whitney Professor, The Southern Baptist

Theological Seminary):

First, the Bible prescribes both personal and interpersonal spiritual disciplines. There are
those spiritual disciplines that we practice alone and those that we practice with other
Christians. So, for example, we are to pray alone. That is a personal spiritual discipline.
We are also to pray with the church. That is an interpersonal or congregational spiritual
discipline.

Second, they are activities. They are not attitudes. Disciplines are practices. Spiritual
disciplines are things you do. They are not character qualities. They are not graces. They
are not the fruit of the Spirit. They are things you do.

So you read the Bible. That is something you do. That is a spiritual discipline. You meditate
on Scripture. You pray, fast, worship, serve, learn, and so forth. These are activities. Now
the goal of practicing any given discipline is not about doing as much as it is about being:
being like Jesus, being with Jesus. But the biblical way to grow in being more like Jesus is
through the rightly motivated doing of the biblical, spiritual disciplines.

Third, practices taught or modeled in the Bible. The reason that is important is otherwise
we leave ourselves open to calling anything we want a spiritual discipline. So someone
might say: Gardening is a spiritual discipline for me, or exercise is one of my spiritual
disciplines, or any other hobby or pleasurable habit they could call a spiritual discipline.

But one of the problems with that is that mindset could tempt someone to say: Maybe
meditation on Scripture works for you, but gardening does just as much for my soul as
the Bible does for yours. Virtually anything being a spiritual discipline is one problem. The
other problem is that it leaves it to us to determine what will be best for our spiritual
health and maturity rather than accepting those things God has revealed in Scripture as
the means of experiencing God and growing in Christlikeness.

Fourth, those found in Scripture are sufficient for knowing and experiencing God and for
growing in Christlikeness. We are told in those famous verses, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, that
“all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work,” including the good work of pursuing the purpose of
godliness, the good work of growing in Christlikeness. The Scriptures are sufficient for
that.
 Fifth, they are derived from the gospel, not divorced from the gospel. Rightly practiced,
the spiritual disciplines take us deeper into the glories of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not
away from it as though we have moved on to some advanced level of Christianity. “The
gospel is the ABCs. Now let’s get into the really deep things of God, the spiritual
disciplines.” No, the spiritual disciplines are derived from the gospel, not divorced from
it, and they only take us deeper into an understanding of the gospel.

Sixth, they are means and not ends. The end, that is, the purpose of practicing the
disciplines is godliness. “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7,
NASB). And so we are not godly just because we practice the spiritual disciplines. That
was the great error of the Pharisees. They felt by doing these things they were godly. No,
they are means to godliness. Rightly motivated, they are the means to godliness.

4) What usually prevents you from exercising spiritual discipline (see Romans 3:9-18)?

Confusion abounds about rights and boundaries, roles and authority. This confusion
muddies our thinking about God and creates roadblocks to our spiritual growth.

Romans 3:9-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 What then? [a]Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that

both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,

THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,

THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,

WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”

“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;

15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,

16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,

17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”

18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

5) What can a lack of spiritual discipline do to your life?

Lack of spiritual discipline opens the door to sin.

Without spiritual discipline, we are unable to live up to our God-given potential.

6) Reflect on 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (“Train yourself to be godly”). What is the literal meaning of
train?

1 Timothy 4:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7 But [a]have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand,
discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little
 profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life
and also for the life to come.

To “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7) does indeed require such
denial and sacrifice as seen in the Greek word “gymnazo” used for discipline in this verse.
It comes from the root word “gumnos” which means naked. To exercise naked suggests
we rid ourselves of that which could hold us back or slow us down. —

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and
perfecter of faith.” (Heb. 12:1-2a)

7) What does this definition tell you about the way to approach spiritual discipline?

For the soul to strengthen, it has to be trained in a consistent, deliberate way. Just like
your physical muscles, it needs something to push against, it needs resistance. If you
really want your spirit to be able to soar to adventurous heights and explore the
profoundest of depths, if you really want it to possess power — if you really want it to be
free — it paradoxically needs some structure. It needs discipline.

8) What does Hebrews 12:1 say about running the Christian race?

Hebrews 12:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay
aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us,

9) What things are holding you back in your walk with God? What makes you hang on to
them?

10) Is there a cost to spiritual discipline? Check out 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. What could
greater discipline cost you? Are you prepared to pay the price?

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 New International Version (NIV)

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a

crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I
do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the
air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached
to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily
and follow me. (Lk. 9:23)
We must take up our cross daily. This suggests a pursuit of Him that is regular and on-
going, not haphazard or short-lived. That takes discipline.
 2 Timothy 4:8
From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but to all who crave His
appearing.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he
will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

1 Peter 5:4
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never
fade away.

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you
into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto
death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11) How does the motivation in legalism differ from the motivation in discipline?

Legalism is defined as “excessive adherence to law or formula.”

Discipline is defined as “activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a

skill; training.”

But true discipline is a far cry from legalism—thank God! The difference lies in motivation:
Legalism is self-centered; discipline is God-centered. The legalistic heart says, “I will do this thing
to gain merit with God.” The disciplined heart says, “I will do this because I love God and want to
please Him.” The true heart of discipline is relationship—a relationship with God. John Wesley’s
words express this relationship beautifully:

If it means you have to get up early to spend time in God’s Word and prayer, will you?
If it means you have to shut the TV off in order to be still with God, will you?
If it means turning off your cellphone in order to meditate on God’s Word without
interruptions, will you?

Fill in the blank with that which will tune out what most distracts you from giving God
undivided attention:

If it means I have to __________________________ to devote myself to God, will I?

In fact, the times we feel least like reading the Bible are most likely the times that we
need it the most.