August 8
“Without consultation plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)
Finally, before we move on to another topic entirely, let me say that there are many books available that give tips on how to develop new habits and how to change. If you have access to Amazon books online you will see how many dozens of resources there are to help people develop new habits and change their lives. Books such as How to Build Self-Discipline, 30 Days – Change Your Habits Change Your Life, Have a New You by Friday, The Power of Habit, The 7 Habits That Will Change Your Life Forever, Living Forward – A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, etc., etc., etc. (Please note that I have not read any of these books, and I am not endorsing them, but I do plan to read some of them. I am simply making you aware that there are many secular and some Christian resources for developing discipline and new habits, and these may be helpful to you.)
Everyone is different, and although to my knowledge none of the books above are written from a Christian perspective, there may very well be some ideas here that can help you master new habits of discipline and even transform the way you look at things. That would be good if you can find from some of these sources a system or a good way of thinking differently that helps you. I know I enjoy reading these types of books because I am personally very interested in how I can get better control of my time and be more available to Christ and more pleasing to Him, and I usually gain some insights and tips that are helpful to me from these types of sources.
But I want to emphasize something that I personally have become convinced of in my own life: I cannot please Christ on my own and in my own strength. I can master all of the best available human-devised techniques for managing my time, controlling my thoughts and emotions, and finding my “dreams and passions,” etc., and still miss the abundant life that comes from intimate knowledge of Jesus. My relationship with Him is the only thing that counts. Christ in me, the hope of glory, and His Spirit showing me “the knowledge of His will” (Colossians 1:9-10) and empowering me to do it is far more fruitful in this life and the life to come than mastering all the best techniques of man.
Muddling along through life (as it may seem) in intimate communion with Christ is far better than a disciplined, productive life lived out in the strength and wisdom of the world, I believe. I can gain the whole world, but if I don’t have Christ, it is of no value to me (Mark 8:36-37). Or I can be a very disciplined person and accomplish just about whatever I set my mind to, but if the Holy Spirit is not directing my activities for His purposes, what good is it, really, in an eternal sense? That kind of life is just another distraction from focusing on what is truly of value, Christ Himself.
That is why I will always commend to you and point you to prayer and the Word as your true and lasting means to change, and these will enable you to get connected to Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit. He is the goal, not discipline or change to gain earthly treasure or notability. Learning techniques so we can “find ourselves” and live our lives that way we want to is a dead end. Doing His will must be our purpose, not finding techniques to be better at doing our will. My ultimate advice to everyone and everyone who seeks to change is to cry out continually to Christ to change you and make you a useful servant for His glory. He knows you intimately and can produce change in you that you don’t even recognize you need and might resist if you knew what He was up to! Lasting change starts and ends with Christ producing His life in us, and only God can make it deep, personal, satisfying, lasting, peaceable, and eternally fruitful.