Discipline Outlasts Desire
Tyler Thornton
As we move past the New Year and into mid-January, we have just passed a significant milestone of a day - one you won’t find on most calendars but has earned a reputation nonetheless. The second Friday in January is often referred to as "Quitter’s Day," a day when many abandon their resolutions, overwhelmed by the fading desire that once fueled their goals. While this is often discussed in terms of fitness, dieting, or productivity, it’s just as relevant to our spiritual lives.
Why Do We Quit?
Our spiritual growth, like any meaningful pursuit, requires more than initial enthusiasm and desire to make a change. It’s tempting to think that desire alone will sustain us in our pursuit of God, but experience teaches us otherwise. Can I be honest for a moment? There are days I just flat out don’t “feel” like opening my Bible. Crazy right?!? The reality is, emotions and enthusiasm are fleeting. As Oswald Chambers wrote, “It is in the process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine that we find life.” Spiritual growth involves steady, disciplined faithfulness, even when we don’t feel like it.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes this kind of persistence in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 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."
Paul compares the Christian life to a race, highlighting the importance of discipline over desire. Athletes don’t train based on fleeting motivation - they cultivate daily habits that align with their ultimate goal. In the same way, our spiritual growth must be built on intentional, consistent practices.
The Danger of Desire Alone
Desire is a good starting point, but it’s not a reliable foundation. Proverbs 21:5 reminds us, "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." Spiritual diligence involves structuring our lives in a way that reflects what we value. If growing closer to God is a priority, our schedules and habits should reflect that.
Richard Foster writes in Celebration of Discipline, "The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people." Depth comes not from sporadic bursts of passion, but from a life committed to habits that draw us nearer to God.
Practical Steps Toward Spiritual Discipline
Here are a few ways we can move from fleeting desire to lasting discipline in our spiritual growth:
Set Clear Goals: Failure to plan is planning to fail! Identify where God is asking you to grow. Is it reading the Bible daily? Spending time in prayer? Attending church faithfully? Identifying growth areas is the first step to accomplishing goals.
Schedule Your Priorities: Instead of fitting spiritual practices into your leftover time, schedule them first! Start your day with prayer or set aside a consistent time for Bible study. It doesn't always have to be the first thing you do, but it needs to be the first thing you schedule.
Be Accountable: Find someone to encourage and challenge you in your walk with Christ. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." Accountability strengthens discipline.
Rely on God’s Strength: Ultimately, our ability to remain disciplined comes from God. Philippians 2:13 reminds us, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him." Pray for His strength to remain faithful, even when it’s hard.
The Reward of Discipline
When we embrace discipline, we experience lasting spiritual growth that transcends fleeting emotions. Over time, our habits shape our hearts. The seeds of discipline we plant today will bear fruit in our lives for years to come.
So, as "Quitter’s Day" has come and gone, let’s commit to persevering in our spiritual disciplines - not just because we feel like it, but because they reflect the depth of our love for God. In the words of Eugene Peterson, spiritual growth is "a long obedience in the same direction." May we run the race with endurance, trusting that the God who calls us is faithful to sustain us.