Character & Discipline: Two Indispensable Virtues For Visionaries
For visionaries, leaders and those who are to achieve something meaningful in life, they cannot do without character and discipline.
These two are some of the characteristics of great leaders.
If we are to fulfill our God-ordained missions on earth, we must be people of character and discipline.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27).
The flesh is so selfish that if you allow it, it wouldn’t allow you to fulfill your God-ordained mission. Hence, one needs to subject it to discipline and chastise it to do one’s bidding and not the other way round.
The WordWeb dictionary defines character as:
The inherent complex of attributes that determines a person’s moral and ethical actions and reactions.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines character as:
One of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual
Hence, to be a person of character, people need to know you for something valuable. A man of good character is one that portrays good and godly morals, attributes or characteristics.
A man of vision sees a picture of the future. It is possible for everybody to have a vision of something, but what distinguishes one man from the other, is character and discipline.
When you refuse to discipline yourself, the flesh begins to dictate to you and determine what you should be doing. Hence, you end up doing what the flesh wants and not what you want as a person.
The desires of the flesh are, however, carnal and often ungodly. Hence, it is pertinent to subject the flesh to the will of God, and when the flesh says otherwise, we must have the final say over the decision for the actualization of the vision we envision.
The Oxford dictionary defines discipline as:
The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience.
GPT-3.5 defines it as:
The practice of training oneself or others to follow a set of rules, guidelines, or principles in order to achieve desired outcomes. It involves self-control, consistency, and the ability to resist temptations or distractions. Discipline is often associated with personal development, productivity, and success.
From the forgone, it is pertinent to note that discipline entails following laid-down rules, guidelines, or principles, which may be set by oneself for oneself because one desires to achieve something meaningful or set by others and are expected to be followed or obeyed by all to whom it is concerned.
In order for visionaries to achieve their visions, they need to envision them and map out strategies to actualize them. This entails disciplining oneself, and it is people of character that are able to discipline themselves for the actualization of a goal.
The good news is that these two are attainable. You can build your character and discipline yourself. The best place to begin learning how to build your character and discipline yourself is from the Bible, the living word of God. If there has ever been a man of God who did something spectacular in his generation, he was a man of discipline. It takes discipline to maintain consistency in studying the bible, reading scriptures, praying and communing with God, waiting on the Lord, etc.
Prayer: Help me to be a person of discipline and principle O Lord. May I never lose focus of the vision You have laid ahead of me, and while I envision the vision, help me to subject my body to your will until I have actualized all that you plan for me. In Jesus name. Amen!