Day 171 - Receiving God’s Discipline

Carley Sheppard


“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

“The path to public success is always paved with private discipline.” – Craig Groeschel

Yesterday, we discussed the importance of receiving God’s discipline. Paul reminds us in his second letter to Timothy that the Bible is breathed out by God and is a source of teaching, correction, and training. So how do we receive His discipline?

Sometimes I make the mistake of turning to the Bible for hope and fluffy promises. Many of us must remember that it also contains valuable lessons and even corrections intended to make us complete. The beautiful thing about the Bible is that it provides both promises of hope AND correction on how we can improve. We can receive God’s discipline by spending time in the Word, having mentors who have studied the Word, and being in godly community.

If you aren’t sure where to start, I would encourage you to start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Jesus is the ultimate model of leadership. If you aren’t sure how you are called to act, look to Him and His life on Earth. He knew what being in a fleshly body was like, but He lived above reproach and sin. He knows what it is like to be in our shoes. He does not call us to be perfect, but we are to continue our daily aim to be more like Him. You may also enjoy reading lessons in the Psalms or Paul’s letters. Still, I encourage you to explore the whole Bible eventually.

John Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, talks about several laws that apply to this desire for growth. The first is the Law of the Lid. Our leadership capacity and our team are only as strong as the level we are at. If we reach that level, we put a lid on our ability to grow. Therefore, we must be open to discipline and continue to learn and grow.


Next Steps

  • Think about it: Are you taking time to read your Bible daily?

  • Think about it: How can you improve your quiet time?

  • Action Step: Write down all the ways that God’s discipline can strengthen you as a leader.