It is not difficult to have good intentions, but turning them into real action is a different matter. It is hard to deny that only a few people can do so. Intention alone never guarantees growth that is marked by real change. Only those who live with discipline will produce change. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul describes the Christian life like an athlete running in a race. “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!” (1 Cor. 9:24).
It is not enough for an athlete to merely have the intention to win; he must “run in such a way as to get the prize!” A good athlete is aware that failure is possible, yet he keeps running in such a way until he obtains the crown of victory. Therefore, in the following verse, Paul writes, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things” (v. 25a). The NIV translates this part as “…goes into strict training.”
At the beginning of the year, we usually carry great enthusiasm—full of passion, with a sense that everything is possible. Yet without discipline, that initial excitement will fade—often within a few weeks. Genuine commitment cannot be separated from discipline, and discipline is always connected to the daily decisions we make. Discipline is commitment translated into concrete actions, beginning with small things and carried out in measurable, repeated patterns.
Paul says, “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” (v. 27). Another translation renders it: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” In a broader context, the “body” is not limited to the physical aspect but includes desires, habits, time, and the direction of our lives. Spiritual commitment means disciplining ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to take complete control of our lives. We cannot grow in spiritual maturity, nor stand firm in our walk with God, without being disciplined in reading and meditating on God’s Word, praying, guarding our hearts, and controlling our tongues.
Sometimes we view discipline as something rigid, but in reality, discipline is an expression of love. God disciplines us because He loves us, shaping and training us through His discipline. We discipline ourselves because we love God. Without discipline, commitment is nothing more than empty words—a daydream. With discipline, commitment grows into character.
As we step into this new year, let us stop merely creating long lists of good intentions and start training ourselves in the small things. Wake up ten minutes earlier than usual to begin the day with prayer. Read one chapter of Scripture each day and reflect on what God wants us to carry out that day. Reorder our life priorities so that our lives bring more delight to God. Remember, commitment is not measured by the size of the steps we take but by the consistency of those steps.
To close, let us reflect on these questions: What spiritual discipline does God want me to start so that my life becomes more like Christ? What discipline once grew in my life but withered because of inconsistency—and needs to be revived now?
In the end, the journey of commitment is not about how perfectly we fulfill every promise, but how firmly we lean on God’s grace in every step. Let us move forward with hearts continually renewed, discipline rebuilt, and confidence that the God who began the work will surely empower us to finish it.