DISCIPLINE FOR THE JOURNEY

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:11

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Hey Victorious Woman! Before we dive in, let me just say welcome to the Victorious Living blog!

My heart behind every post is simple—to inspire you to KEEP GOING. No matter where you are on your journey, you are not alone, and victory is already yours in Christ!

Now, let’s talk discipline.

I know, I know—it’s not always the most exciting topic. But hear me out. It’s officially 2025, and like every new year, we find ourselves setting goals, making resolutions, and writing out vision boards. But let's keep it real—without discipline, all of that is just wishful thinking. Ask me how I know! Because after 42 years of life and multiple seasons of starting things but not completing them,

I’ve learned that discipline is a vital component to seeing fruitful and lasting transformation. But I don’t want to just talk about discipline in a general sense—I want us to see this through the lens of faith.

The kind of discipline that shifts your spiritual life. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:7-8... Whether you’re an everyday Jesus follower or called to lead in ministry, discipline is required.

The Moment I Realized I Had Lost Focus

I’m not as fit as I was in my college years—especially after having four beautiful daughters and navigating life’s unexpected turns. There were days I looked in the mirror and wondered,

How did I get here?
I would immediately start listing all the external circumstances that threw me off course. And listen, we all experience seasons where life just happens—and we have every right to sit with the weight of it all. But here’s the thing:
there’s a process to the processing.
We can’t stay stuck. After all the excuses, I had one answer left—ME. I had to take ownership of where I lost focus. It wasn’t just about external things; I had neglected the disciplines that kept me grounded.

Spiritual Discipline is About Transformation

When I became a believer, I realized that following Jesus was more than just accepting Him as my Lord and Savior.

This decision was about surrendering to a whole new way of life.
My responses to life had to shift, my mindset had to be renewed, and my habits had to align with the Word of God. The Bible wasn’t just something to read—it had to become personal.

You might be wondering, Why do we keep revisiting these “basic” topics? I hear you! But let me tell you—after all these years of saying “Yes” to God, I still find myself praying, Lord, draw me closer.
There is always more in Him! And every time we enter a new season, we need to pause and
realign. What better time than the beginning of a new year to refocus and reset in God’s presence?

Your Invitation to Reset & Realign

Let this be the year we refuse to coast. Let’s be intentional. Let’s set aside sacred time

to refocus, renew, and realign.

As we close, here’s my Call-To-Action for you:

1) Search the Scriptures and find passages on discipline that speak to you. 2) Write them down, meditate on them, and ask God to show you where you need to realign. 3) Commit to taking one actionable step toward discipline in your spiritual walk today.

It takes work to be disciplined, but the harvest is worth it.

First things first, and until next time—Keep It Victorious!

With love & purpose,

Latoya Tolbert