Yesterday’s blog on complexity versus simplicity leads to today’s blog, suggested by the same Sahil Bloom blog from January 19, 2024. It is this simple fact: discipleship requires discipline. Am I going too fast for anyone?

As I wrote yesterday, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi believed in simplicity. Equally legendary football coach Nick Sabin believed in a simple dedication to discipline. Here’s some of what he said as reported by Teddy Mitrosilis:

These guys, they all think they have this illusion of choice. Like I can do whatever I want to do.

You have a younger generation now that doesn’t always get told no. They don’t get told this is exactly how you need to do it. So they have this illusion that they have all these choices.

But the fact of the matter is, if you want to be good you don’t really have a lot of choices. It takes what it takes. You have to do what you have to do to be successful.

You have to make the choices and decisions to have the discipline and the focus on the process of what you need to do to accomplish your goals.

“It takes what it takes. You have to do what you have to do to be successful. You have to…focus on the process of what you need to do.”

This is not rocket science. If I want to get stronger, I have to go to the gym and lift weights. There’s no substitute for discipline over time.

The formula for becoming successful: Your Daily Choices x Time. It’s simple, but we make it complicated. – Teddy Mitrosilis, summarizing Nick Sabin’s principles.

And there’s no substitute for discipline over time when it comes to the Christian life. If there were a shortcut, I would have found it by now!

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9.24 – 25, NIV)

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5.3, NKJV)

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.34, 35, NIV)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5.16, NIV)