Hebrews 12:11-13   ¹¹ Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  ¹² Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Anytime we start a new discipline, it challenges us. We are changing our habits, our behaviors and it confuses our routine. It might strain our minds, our muscles, our bodies until we want to quit. Our resolve weakens and we feel like helpless, hopeless failures.

But if we stick with it eventually the new discipline becomes a habit. Our routines are readjusted to the new reality we set for ourselves. We are comfortable in our new skin and with our new mindset.

Our faith journey is much the same way. As we deal with those behaviors that God wants to change we become disoriented. We struggle to find the familiar in the unfamiliar. But as we put the new disciplines into practice our minds and hearts are changed…transformed. Eventually we no longer desire the old ways and are ready to walk along the new path with God.

Lord, give us the discipline to stick to our new behaviors and practices so that we can become the people you want us to be. Amen.