The Cheaper Pain
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Let's establish the facts.
We do not serve a mediocre God
He is always moving forward. There is no stagnation in Him.
There is no just average anything in Him.
He EXPECTS growth in His children
He EXPECTS His children to impact where they are at through Him.
He EXPECTS His children to use their gifts for His glory and His church.
He has supplied the power through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:20)
He has given direction through His Word.
His Son is our advocate every day
He has given us the Body of Christ.
Now He EXPECTS us to get to work. Stop waiting on Him. He is waiting on you/me
LET His power work.
How can I let His power work? - Outstanding question.
Step 1: Accept that life is going to have pain, you simply need to decide which pain you will choose this day.
The Pain of Discipline now vs. the Pain of Regret later.
Discipline is usually the cheaper pain - Huh. What do you mean?
You are probably going to pay a price either way. The question is whether you pay a smaller price (cheaper) now through discipline or a potentially much larger price (expensive) later through consequences.
Think of it as Pay Now vs. Pay Later.
The pain of discipline is temporary and purposeful. The pain of regret often arrives later and lasts much longer.
How would this pay now, pay later apply to the 7 pillars of life? Another great question. Let's see.
The 7 pillars: MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, RELATIONAL FINANCIAL,
SOCIAL
1. MENTAL — Discipline What You Feed Your Mind
Pain of Discipline:
Making yourself read, study, learn, think critically, and develop your mind when entertainment, scrolling, and mental laziness would be easier.
Pain of Regret:
Looking back and realizing opportunities passed because you didn't prepare yourself, develop new skills, or continue learning.
Scripture — Proverbs 18:15 NKJV:
“The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Makes you go Hmm thought: “God is not limited by what you can imagine; your imagination is limited by what you know.”
2. EMOTIONAL — Discipline Your Reactions
Pain of Discipline:
Holding your tongue when you're angry. Waiting before responding. Accepting corrections. Refusing to make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.
Pain of Regret:
Having to live with words you cannot take back, relationships you damaged, or decisions you made because anger, fear, pride, or frustration controlled you.
Scripture — Proverbs 29:11 NIV
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
Makes you go Hmm thought: “If God can do beyond what you ask, why allow fear to determine what you ask?”
3. PHYSICAL — Discipline Your Body
Pain of Discipline:
Exercising when you don't feel like it, eating with restraint, getting proper rest, and consistently taking care of your body.
Pain of Regret:
Looking back wishing you had taken better care of yourself when you had the
opportunity—especially when some consequences become difficult or impossible to reverse.
Scripture — 1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT:
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”
Makes you go Hmm thought: “Ephesians 3:20 challenges us to stop making God the size of our expectations.”
4. SPIRITUAL — Discipline Your Walk With God
Pain of Discipline:
Praying when you do not feel like it. Manage your time to study scripture. Obeying when obedience is inconvenient. Remaining faithful when you don't immediately see results.
Pain of Regret:
Discovering that years of spiritual neglect left you weak when trials arrived, unfamiliar with God's Word, and wondering how much stronger your relationship with God could have become.
Scripture — Psalm 119:11 NLT
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Makes you go Hmm thought: “God can exceed the prayer because He sees what the person praying cannot see.”
5. RELATIONAL — Discipline How You Treat People
Pain of Discipline:
Apologizing first. Forgiving. Listening instead of always talking. Making time for your spouse, children, family, and friends. Having necessary difficult conversations.
Pain of Regret:
Realizing you won arguments but lost relationships, stayed too busy while people you loved needed you, or waited until someone was gone to tell them what they meant to you.
Scripture — James 1:19 NLT:
“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
Makes you go Hmm thought: “Don’t confuse God’s silence with God’s inactivity; exceeding abundantly may require preparation you cannot yet see.”
6. FINANCIAL — Discipline Your Money
Pain of Discipline:
Living below your means, delaying purchases, budgeting, saving, investing, avoiding unnecessary debt, and preparing for tomorrow instead of consuming everything today.
Pain of Regret:
Reaching later life without adequate resources, remaining trapped by debt, having nothing available during emergencies, or realizing decades of income passed through your hands with little remaining.
Scripture — Proverbs 21:20 NLT:
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”
Proverbs 13:11 NLT
Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.
Makes you go Hmm thought: “God’s ‘more’ may not look like your ‘more’—but His wisdom sees farther than your desires.”
7. SOCIAL — Discipline Who Influences You
Pain of Discipline:
Choosing friendships carefully, establishing boundaries, leaving unhealthy environments,
resisting peer pressure, and sometimes being willing to stand alone.
Pain of Regret:
Realizing you lowered your standards to fit in, allowed other people to influence major decisions, wasted years in unhealthy circles, or compromised your convictions for acceptance.
Scripture — Proverbs 13:20 NLT:
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”
Makes you go Hmm thought: “The same God who gave you the ability to imagine is able to operate beyond your imagination.”
We end where we begin:
Ephesians 3:20
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Our Final Hmm:
“Pray beyond your resources. Believe beyond your circumstances. Trust beyond your understanding. God is able.”