Transcription
Are looking at the benefits of self-discipline, the benefits of self-discipline. And we have defined self-discipline as the willpower or ability to consistently compel yourself to do certain things that you are supposed to do without someone else compelling you to do them. Self-discipline is also the ability to consistently restrain yourself from doing something that you are not supposed to do without someone else having to restrain you from doing it.
And we have looked at lack of self-discipline. And we have defined it as when you know what you are supposed to do, yet you fail to compel yourself to do it consistently, either at the exact time or as often as is required.
As we look at the benefits of self-discipline, I will quickly throw light on [Music] habits, focus, and extreme determination. A habit is something you do consistently, either consciously or unconsciously, and this is very much central to our study and the concept of self-discipline. Habits have been discovered to be a great catalyst for success in different areas of life, a great catalyst. Habits can make or mar a person's life and future. Most successful people in life have certain good habits that prepare them and then propel them for their eventual success. That is why even before a young man, a young woman gets to a particular height in life, some people would have already anticipated that happening. Before the point will come where some very discerning persons will be able to see, with the way you are carrying about your life, I see you rising to this level within the process of time. Whatever you keep on doing on a daily basis will eventually create the future you strongly desire. So habits set, they set the pace, they prepare the stage, they are actually seeds that are being sown towards a desired outcome in the future. In that area of life where you desire to stand out, you need to cultivate certain habits that will make you filled with whatever would be required to excel in that particular activity or field in life.
Now, another very central word in the study of self-discipline is focus. Focus. In Joshua chapter 1 verse 7, Joshua 1 verse 7, he said, "Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whichever way thou goest." Turn not from the right, from it to the right or to the left. Be focused. And then what will ultimately happen? That you may prosper, that you may succeed in the journey ahead of you. I pray that through the grace of the Almighty God, you will succeed and excel in your journey of life, in the name of Jesus. You must have a major priority that you are focused on every year of your life. Every year, you must have at least one major priority that becomes the central of most of your activities, your investment of time, attention for that particular year. It's been observed that in any area you decide to be fully focused and you accord to that particular goal, project, task, or assignment, excellent preparation, optimum input, you give it so much time, serious attention, exhaustive research, and in some instances, so much investment of even material, financial resource. You practice, you train exhaustively for that same thing. You engage in strategic thinking, you consult exhaustively, you carry out detailed planning, timely planning. In any realm where you deploy all or some of these things sufficiently over a given measure of time, you would, God will, will always honor you with with results. Something good will always ultimately come out of everything you have invested in that direction. And so, I pray for someone listening to me who is currently very focused on something that needs to be achieved or solved, that God will crown your efforts with outstanding results and success. Can that man or woman say, loud, amen?
And the third thing I would talk about is extreme determination. Extreme determination is one dimension of that realm of your willpower. There are many things that would never have been achieved if not for the extreme determination of certain people, or at least one person. And if you want to apply that to your life and to yourself, it means in the process of your great destiny, a time will come where for something to be achieved, something to be successful, is solved, extreme determination will be required from you. The usual passive measure of desire would not get that issue solved, would not get that outstanding result achieved. When people are extremely determined, they are ready to urgently do anything to achieve the specific goal. So, in this study of self-discipline, have it in mind that the spirit of God is also letting you know for some, ahead of time, that for some goals to be achieved, for some dreams to come to pass, for some prophecies to be fulfilled on your part, you will need to be extremely determined in playing a particular role. Extreme determination compels people to exercise a lot of self-control, a lot of self-discipline, in tune with what needs to be achieved.
So, benefits of self-discipline. It helps, it brings about, it, it will, um, it gives you the power to stick to your decisions and follow them through without changing your mind. You are able to develop good habits with self-discipline. With self-discipline, you are able to get rid of bad habits. With self-discipline, you'll be able to overcome addictions, overeating, procrastinating, laziness. Self-discipline is an important trait to develop, irrespective of your career or industry of operation. It's a major key to achieving personal goals and career success. Self-discipline, self-discipline produces sustainable success over time. So, when you have, when you have cultivated a very strong level of self-discipline, you will avoid acting rashly and on impulse. Acting rashly and on impulse. You will carry out the promises and decisions you make to yourself and to others, even when it's not convenient. You will be able to break a bad habit or addiction. You're able to break a bad habit or addiction. You'll be able to make wise and healthy choices. Wise and healthy choices. With self-discipline, you will overcome the tendency to laziness and procrastination. Procrastination. You'll be able to improve your ability, your, your level of concentration and focus. With self-discipline, you stay focused when you are working. With self-discipline, you'll be able to work on a project even after the initial rush of enthusiasm has faded away. You remain committed to the project. With self-discipline, you will go, you will exercise as often as you need to. You will go for a walk. You will use the gym if you need to, as often as you need to. Praise you, the Lord. With self-discipline, you'll be able to go with any diet that is recommended for you. You'll be able, you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. You overcome some habits like watching the television, being on social media beyond the acceptable time. You will meet your tasks and goals confidently and pursue them accidously. Self-discipline will bring self-improvement. Self-discipline will bring spiritual ground. It will certainly bring spiritual ground. It helps you to stick with and achieve tough goals that may have been set for you or you have set for yourself.
Now, listen to this. Self-discipline also has been found to improve learning and enhance performance. Research has shown that measuring a person's level of self-discipline is a more accurate predictor of success than measuring the person's IQ. Your level of self-discipline is a better signal indicator of your potentials for success than your level of IQ. Studies have also shown that students with a high degree of this, this skill of self-discipline, retain more knowledge than those without it. This is because they are more persevering and possess the inner strength to focus on their studies. May the Lord increase your inner strength. May the Lord infuse His strength and power into you in a higher dimension. Whatever it is that will be good for you in life, may the Lord give you the strength to rise up and begin to do those things now, in the name of Jesus. And whatever would be destructive to your life or your health, may the Lord give you the will to resist them from now, in the name of Jesus. With long life and good health will the Lord satisfy you, and may you play your own part, in the name of Jesus. Praise you, the Lord. You.