When God picks the word for you.

A couple months ago I told you guys I was reading Proverbs with John and a group of men.

Through that whole plan, one word kept jumping out at me. It didn't matter what chapter we were in

or what verse I landed on the Holy Spirit kept steering me right back to the same place.

Discipline.

Every year on my birthday I pick one word to focus on for the year. This year, it feels like God

picked it for me instead. At first, I glazed over it. I really did. But it kept showing back up, over and

over, until I couldn't pretend I didn’t see it.

If I'm honest, I hesitated to even write about this. "Discipline" has turned into clickbait. Everybody

talks about it, almost nobody actually has it, and I fall into that "almost nobody" category more than

I'd like to admit. I can be disciplined, but it's always in one lane at a time. Working out for a season.

Eating right for a season. Being present, being a good husband, being a good dad, showing up at

work I can nail one maybe two of those for a while and let the others slide. This year, the goal isn't

picking a lane. It's building discipline across all of them, at the same time.

A Year That Hasn't Been Friendly

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Let me Take a second toopen up a bit, not to complain, but to give you some insight about where my head has been. 2026 has not been the friendliest to me. Not "serious tragedy" not-friendly, more "I just want to complain about it" not-friendly. I've been pulled over four times and threatened with arrest twice this year and I hadn't been pulled over in a decade before this. No shade to CCPD; honestly, they've cut

me a lot of slack with warnings. My license got suspended over a clerical error that wasn't even my fault. Someone stole my identity and filed taxes using my Social Security number. I could keep going, but I truly hate complaining, and if you're anything like me, you get it. All of that has had me sitting in a negative mindset. Frustrated. Defensive. Waiting for the next thing to go wrong instead of expecting God to work. That stops here. And discipline is how I'm turning it around not white-knuckle willpower, but the kind of discipline Scripture actually describes.

Discipline Isn't Punishment — It's Formation

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When I started digging into what the Bible actually says about discipline, it completely changed how

I understood the word. Scripture doesn't primarily present discipline as punishment. It's about correction, training, and shaping us into people who are faithful and mature. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word yasar means to discipline, correct, or train. It's the active work of a loving Father guiding His children back to the right path. From it comes musar, which refers to the wisdom, instruction, and character that discipline produces. The book of Proverbs talks about musar more than anywhere else, and the message is consistent: discipline is an expression of love, not anger. A wise child accepts corrections. We're told not to resent the Lord's discipline because He corrects those He loves, just as a good father does his son. Rejecting correction isn't independence it's foolishness

‘My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he

loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)

In the New Testament, the Greek words paideia and paideuo carry the same idea: raising, training, and forming someone's character. Hebrews 12 reminds us that God's discipline can be painful, but it produces "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" in those who are trained by it. Paul also tells parents to

raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, pointing to a process that's about heart transformation, not just behavior management.

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of

righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12: 11 (ESV)

There's another Greek word, sophronismos, which describes a sound, self-controlled mind. It reminds

us that God's goal isn't just to correct us when we wander but to develop the kind of character that

chooses wisdom before correction is even needed.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

That's why I now see discipline differently. Biblically, discipline is love wearing work clothes. It's not God punishing me because I had a suspended license or became a victim of identity theft. It's a loving Father using a difficult season to shape my character, deepen my faith, and make me more like Him.

Building Discipline in Every Area

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So, here's where 2026 goes from here and I'd love for you to come along for the journey.

This isn't about focusing on just one area of life. It's about pursuing growth across all of them,

because they're all connected.

• Fitness: Showing up for every workout, whether I feel motivated or not.

• Nutrition: Fueling my body with intention instead of using food to cope with stress or

emotions.

• Marriage: Being a husband who is present, patient, and intentional—continually pursuing my wife instead of settling into autopilot.

• Fatherhood: Being fully present for my son, making intentional time together instead of

giving him whatever time happens to be left over.

• Presence: Putting my phone down more often and being fully engaged with the people and moments right in front of me.

• Career: Serving every client and referral partner with excellence, finding solutions were

others see obstacles and helping families build the future they're dreaming of.

Real change doesn't come from willpower alone. It comes when we let God shape us through

correction we're willing to receive, training we're willing to embrace, and the Spirit giving us the

self-control to respond before life has to get our attention the hard way.

I didn't choose my word this year. God made it impossible to ignore. So instead of running from

it like Jonah, I'm choosing to let it shape every part of my life. Because discipline isn't about

punishment. It's about becoming the person God is forming you to be.

Now you know my word.... What's yours?

If you could choose one word that you want God to develop in your life this year, what would it

be? Maybe it's faith. Courage. Patience. Trust. Peace. Obedience. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear

it.

Drop your word in the comments and tell us why you chose it. Then share this post with a friend

or your small group and invite them to pick a word too. Let's build a community of people who

aren't just talking about growing in faith we're actually living it together, one intentional step at a

time.