“Discipline” here represents maintaining an orderly life. It is operating as demanded not as convenient.

Also, it is maximising and investing our time, instead of squandering it. George Washington once said, “Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable, procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.” No matter where we are today, we can emerge a formidable force when the force of discipline is entrenched into our lives.

The Bible confirms this: “Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

Self-discipline is being a law to ourselves and subscribing to do things because they are of advantage to our mission on earth. This is because it takes self-discipline to end up distinguished. Discipline is having a schedule for our day so we don’t live it as it comes.

Therefore, let’s discipline ourselves so much that people would identify us only with our divine assignment on earth. In other words, go the extra mile, pay the extra price, take the extra step and you will lind yourself at the top in no time.

“Diligence” here means hard work. As stated earlier, many years ago, I saw in my Bible: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men (Proverbs 22:29).

From this scripture, I understood that how much we invest, in terms of time, energy and resources in our destinies today, would determine where we stand tomorrow. In other words, it is the quality of our work that defines our ultimate worth. 

The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute (Proverbs 12:24).

That means, it is diligence that establishes enthronement. This is because there is no future for an idle man in the Kingdom. Jesus said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). He further said: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4).

Paul said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

Thus, grace without labour equals disgrace. We can never take anything out of life more than what we have invested into it. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).

Therefore, the harder we work, the greater our level of delivery. If we are not hard workers, we will live hard lives.

Many years ago, in my secondary school days, a friend of mine wrote on the back of his notebook: “Hard work never kills.” Those words struck me and I added: “It only refines,” because the furnace does not kill gold; it only brings out its value (Proverbs 27:21). In the same vein, the value in us will never emerge without a cost from us. Remember, there is nothing of value without a cost…

This text is an extract from the book “THE BREAKTHROUGH POWER OF VISION” written by David O. Oyedepo. 
We invite you to read the following article “VISION BOOSTERS“.