In the pursuit of success, what some have already discovered and others will soon discover, is that it’s easier to reach success than it is to sustain success. It’s easier to get married and have a family than it is to sustain a successful family. It’s easier to start a career than it is to sustain a successful career. It’s easier to give your life to Jesus than it is to become a successful follower of Jesus. Sustainable success requires discipline. Motivation and inspiration will get you started but when motivation fades it is discipline that will lead you to sustainable success.

Discipline is not a quality any one of us is born with it’s a quality that we must learn and develop. In the very first chapter of the Book of Proverbs Solomon writes:

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, King of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplinedand successful lives, – Proverbs 1: 1-3 NLT

Discipline is learned and developed through self-discipline.

All athletes are disciplinedin their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I disciplinemy body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. – 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NLT

Discipline is learned and developed through human discipline.

Let the righteous disciplineme; let the faithful correct me! Let my head never reject that kind of fine oil, because my prayers are always against the deeds of the wicked.  Psalms 141:5 CEBA

Discipline is learned and developed through divine discipline.

 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law…  – Psalms 94:12 NIV

 Motivation will start you on the road to success; discipline will lead you to sustain success.