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PROGRAM D-8445

If you’ve tried and tried to put some bad habits behind you but without success, I have good news for you. As a Christ-follower you have power beyond yourself to help you get rid of bad habits and replace them with new, energizing disciplines.

An important principle about discipline—or the lack of it—is that it is contagious. When you start to lose discipline in one area of your life, it spills over to others. For example, if you skip your appointed time with God this morning, you’re less likely to work hard and stay on task today because you didn’t get started in a disciplined mode. Remember, your day is won or lost in the morning hours!

The good news is, the reverse is true. When you get one new discipline established in your life, it is much easier to get other disciplines going. When you start to recognize the incredible benefits of discipline, you just want to put those bad habits behind you because you realize it is self-inflicted suffering.

Do you want to be more disciplined? Why not begin today with one discipline you need to improve. Choose one—just one—and begin a prayer campaign. You don’t have to do this on your own; you probably can’t do it on your own. So, begin with daily prayer focusing on that discipline.

Then design some structures that force the discipline on you. Ask for help; establish some accountability; tell people what you’re doing. This will help to impose that discipline. Then, just do it! Start today! You’re going to discover that as you add discipline to your life, it is indeed the road to real life. You’ll get rid of guilt, have good feelings about yourself, and know that you’re using your gifts, time, and energy as God wants you to.

It is never too late; you’re never too old; you’ve never gone so far that you can’t make needed changes. But it’s your decision. God is ready to help you; the Word of God will give you guidance and strength; prayer will give you the power you need. But you must first make a hard and firm decision that you want to put those bad habits behind you.

Please, choose an area of needed discipline in your life and begin today to pray about that area each morning. Then put the structures in place which will impose that discipline on yourself. Work on one area at a time and learn the joy and satisfaction of being a disciplined person. I promise you, you’ll get hooked!