Thriving Through Commitment and Daily Discipline
Summary
In Proverbs 14:11, we are reminded that while the house of the wicked will be destroyed, the tent of the godly will flourish. This is a powerful promise from God, indicating His desire for us to thrive and reach our full potential. Many of us have experienced seasons of withering, but God is calling us to a year of thriving, a year where we blossom and become the new version of ourselves that He envisions. To achieve this, we must be fully committed to God, have a vision for our growth, and maximize our godly potential.
To thrive in 2025, we must start our day the right way. This involves developing new habits that set us up for success. Proverbs 21:31 teaches us that while we prepare for the day, deliverance comes from the Lord. This means we have a role to play in our success, and it begins with our daily routine. Consistency is key, and our habits determine our success.
Starting the day with prayer is essential, as demonstrated by Jesus in Mark 1:35. We must also dedicate time to reading, both the Bible and other books that God leads us to, as they can provide wisdom and guidance. Listening to the Word of God and other enriching content can transform our commutes and workouts into opportunities for growth. Physical exercise is also important, as it helps us be good stewards of the bodies God has given us. Finally, we must strive for excellence in everything we do, as this reflects our faithfulness and readiness for greater responsibilities.
God has an incredible future planned for each of us, but it requires our cooperation and commitment to His ways. By starting our day with intentionality and discipline, we align ourselves with His plans and open the door to the flourishing life He desires for us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Commitment to God: To thrive, we must be fully committed to God, giving Him 100% of our lives. This involves daily alone time with Him, where we can pray, listen, and write down what He speaks to us. God desires full custody of our lives, not just a weekly visitation. [01:51]
2. Daily Routine: The secret to our future is hidden in our daily routine. Consistency in our habits, such as starting the day with prayer and reading, sets the foundation for success. Our daily agenda determines our long-term success. [05:55]
3. Reading and Learning: Reading God's Word and other books provides wisdom and guidance. We should be intentional about what we read, allowing God to lead us to resources that will help us grow and develop in various areas of our lives. [16:50]
4. Listening and Growth: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. By listening to sermons, podcasts, and audiobooks, we can fill our minds with positive and faith-building content, transforming our commutes and workouts into opportunities for growth. [25:50]
5. Excellence in Action: Doing everything with excellence reflects our faithfulness and readiness for greater responsibilities. God promotes those who are faithful in small things, and excellence in our daily tasks prepares us for the greater things He has planned. [33:51]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - God's Desire for Us to Flourish
[01:51] - Full Commitment to God
[03:56] - Starting the Day Right
[05:04] - Preparing for Battle
[05:55] - The Secret in Daily Routine
[07:11] - The Power of Discipline
[08:01] - Wisdom and Discipline in Proverbs
[09:17] - The Importance of Prayer
[11:34] - Owning Your Mornings
[12:35] - Adjusting Your Schedule
[14:07] - The Value of Reading
[16:50] - Learning from Others
[19:18] - Mentors in Books
[21:42] - Finding Answers in Books
[25:50] - The Power of Listening
[28:33] - The Role of Exercise
[32:42] - Excellence in Everything
[35:05] - God’s Plan for Promotion
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 14:11 - "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the godly will flourish."
2. Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord."
3. Mark 1:35 - "In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 14:11 suggest about the outcomes for the wicked and the godly? How does this relate to the idea of flourishing? [00:35]
2. According to the sermon, what role does our daily routine play in our success and thriving? [05:55]
3. How did Jesus demonstrate the importance of starting the day with prayer according to Mark 1:35? [10:08]
4. What are some of the new habits mentioned in the sermon that can help us thrive in 2025? [03:56]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the promise in Proverbs 14:11 encourage someone who feels like they are in a season of withering? [00:35]
2. In what ways does Proverbs 21:31 illustrate the balance between human effort and divine intervention? [05:04]
3. Why is it significant that Jesus chose to pray early in the morning, and how can this practice impact our spiritual growth? [10:08]
4. How does the sermon suggest that reading and learning from various sources can contribute to our personal and spiritual development? [16:50]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current level of commitment to God. What steps can you take to give Him 100% of your life, as suggested in the sermon? [01:51]
2. Evaluate your daily routine. What changes can you make to ensure it aligns with the goal of thriving in 2025? [05:55]
3. Consider your current reading habits. How can you be more intentional about reading God's Word and other enriching materials? [16:50]
4. Think about the content you listen to during your commutes or workouts. How can you incorporate more faith-building content into these times? [25:50]
5. Assess your approach to physical exercise. What practical steps can you take to become a better steward of your body? [28:33]
6. Reflect on your work and daily tasks. How can you strive for excellence in everything you do, as encouraged in the sermon? [32:42]
7. Identify one area of your life where you feel you are not thriving. What specific actions can you take to address this and move towards flourishing? [00:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Total Surrender to God
To thrive spiritually, one must be fully committed to God, dedicating every aspect of life to Him. This involves daily alone time with God, where prayer, listening, and journaling what He speaks to us become integral parts of our routine. God desires full custody of our lives, not just a weekly visitation. By giving Him 100% of our lives, we open ourselves to the flourishing life He has planned for us. This commitment is not a one-time decision but a daily choice to align our lives with His will. [01:51]
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: The Power of Consistent Habits
The secret to our future success is hidden in our daily routine. Consistency in habits such as starting the day with prayer and reading sets the foundation for long-term success. Our daily agenda determines our future, and by establishing a routine that prioritizes spiritual growth, we align ourselves with God's plans. This involves being intentional about how we spend our mornings, ensuring that our habits reflect our commitment to God and our desire to thrive. [05:55]
Galatians 6:9 (ESV): "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
Reflection: What is one habit you can start today that will help you grow spiritually? How can you ensure consistency in this habit over the next week?
Day 3: Intentional Reading and Learning
Reading God's Word and other books provides wisdom and guidance for our lives. We should be intentional about what we read, allowing God to lead us to resources that will help us grow and develop in various areas. By immersing ourselves in literature that enriches our understanding and faith, we equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to navigate life's challenges. This intentional learning is a crucial part of our spiritual journey, helping us to become the people God envisions us to be. [16:50]
Proverbs 2:6-7 (ESV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity."
Reflection: What book or passage of Scripture has God been prompting you to read? How can you make time this week to engage with this material and reflect on its teachings?
Day 4: Growth Through Listening
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. By listening to sermons, podcasts, and audiobooks, we can fill our minds with positive and faith-building content. This transforms our commutes and workouts into opportunities for growth, allowing us to continually feed our spirits with God's truth. By being intentional about what we listen to, we can ensure that our minds are focused on things that uplift and encourage us in our walk with God. [25:50]
Romans 10:17 (ESV): "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Reflection: What is one podcast or sermon you can listen to this week that will encourage your faith? How can you incorporate listening to faith-building content into your daily routine?
Day 5: Excellence in Every Task
Doing everything with excellence reflects our faithfulness and readiness for greater responsibilities. God promotes those who are faithful in small things, and excellence in our daily tasks prepares us for the greater things He has planned. By striving for excellence in all we do, we demonstrate our commitment to God and our willingness to be used by Him for His purposes. This pursuit of excellence is a testament to our faith and a reflection of God's work in our lives. [33:51]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: In what area of your life can you strive for greater excellence? What practical steps can you take today to improve in this area and honor God through your efforts?
Quotes
God is asking for full custody, not weekly visitation. That's what God wants. He wants full custody of you. He wants a hundred percent of your life. Then last week we asked the question, we made this statement that if you want to thrive in 2025, you need some alone time with God. That needs to be something you're getting every day. [00:02:04] (21 seconds)
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. Pastor, what kind of scripture did you just dig up? The horse. What are you talking about? The horse is prepared. Well, what's he talking about? Well, back in those days, of course, when you had battles, you had horses and, you know, you had shields and you had swords. [00:04:18] (18 seconds)
You had to prepare your horse, meaning there is a, there's, there's God's side. And then there's your side to everything that God wants to do in your life. So you handled a horse. God will handle the battle. God will handle the battle. God will handle the battle. God will handle the battle. [00:05:04] (18 seconds)
John Maxwell said something, he says, if I could come to your house and spend just one day with you, I would be able to tell whether or not you will be successful. You could pick the day. If I got up with you in the morning and went through the day with you, watching you for 24 hours, I could tell them what direction your life is headed because you will never change your life until you change something you do daily. [00:06:37] (25 seconds)
He also said, every day of your life is merely preparation for the next. What you do, what you become is a result of what you do today. The secret of success is determined by your daily agenda. There was this success coach who met with the Atlanta Falcons once, he had all the players write out their biggest dreams. [00:07:10] (29 seconds)
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline. That's the whole reason for the book of Proverbs. We're reading through Proverbs right now as a church family, right? Anybody reading through Proverbs with us? Right? Okay, 10 people reading through Proverbs with us. It's on our website. It's on our app. We talk about it pretty much every week. [00:08:08] (18 seconds)
And if you think about Jesus, he was the most disciplined person of all. And if you're one of his disciples, that means as a disciple, you are a disciplined one. So, what are you saying, pastor? We got to master this. We got to be disciplined every day. We have to be disciplined and starting our day the right way. [00:08:50] (27 seconds)
And like Jesus, we should start every day in prayer. And I know that someone will say, well, pastor, you know, I just don't have time for that. Well, you do have time for that if you get up earlier. You're already looking at me like you're not happy with me today. So I might as well just, I might as well just come for you today. [00:11:00] (21 seconds)
No, 1 Timothy 4 .13, notice what Paul said to Timothy. He said, till I come, give attendance, attention. That means to hold the mind toward, pay attention to this, apply yourself to reading as well as to exhortation and doctrine. The Amplified Bible mentions private reading and public reading. He just told my preacher, no, no, no. He's saying you need to read for yourself and then read God's word to other people. [00:14:07] (29 seconds)
And I popped out at me. I said, ooh, that's good. I'm going to write that down. The Lord might have me, you know, first of all, I'm looking at why God had Proverbs written. Then I'm like, oh, God might have me share that. Sure enough, he did. The best ministry comes out of your lifestyle, right? You should be reading your Bible every day, right? And God's word, his words are written in a book. [00:15:59] (27 seconds)
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