CHAPTER 47: THE SEVEN DISCIPLINES 2026
Years ago, God threw me into a new life, but I promise you, clearly, He was driving, watching over me, teaching me, loving me. I realize that now more than I did then. Every area of my life changed, sometimes immediately, sometimes not. My path was different and yet I was the same, but not the same. I’d asked God to drive my life, scripture came, little by little, as did my new life.
Isaiah 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?” declares the Lord.
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.
I wanted to know why and how and what. Praying to God becomes pretty much the same thing over and over again, until I read the scripture. I was watching people make mistakes, cause resentments, violate trust, and my question was why? I found these seven areas, all or some were the cause, even one of them could destroy a corporate job, project, relationship, or all three. Most importantly to me, I had no information, with the exception of scripture.
Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and [a]mighty things, which you do not know.’
When I read that, it was exciting. That brings me to Chapter 47, the seven disciplines. Learning became the job of me, spoon fed by the Commander and Chief. With scripture, prayer and a renewed sense of purpose, God helped me write The Seven Disciplines, as I observed corporate America, and the world of people around me, violate each one. Still, I stayed the course and wrote the notes, lest I forget and find myself in a trench of chaos.
Proverbs 1 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will [b]attain wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
That tells me, I can proceed with God, even when my experience is lacking. God fills in the blanks, as long as I’m doing His work. Key element. “His work.” This is my prayer. It has always been my prayer from the beginning to this day.
“Lord, I don’t know what to do with what You’ve given me, please, I beg you, show me what to do, and I’ll do it, I promise — but I pray that you just set one thing at a time — so that I’m not confused — and I will do, absolutely that. Please, I pray, otherwise I am lost.”
Proverbs 2:6 True wisdom, which includes understanding and common sense, comes from God.
Proverbs 28:26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
Here we go. The 7 Disciplines: Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Law, Quality Control, Knowledge, and Direction. All seven, either master them or pretend, one pays dividends, one does not.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Discipline #1: SALES: most people have somebody else do it. It’s okay, but it’s better when the owner is involved. Don’t use other people as an example, this is about you and where you are right now. Get on the phone, introduce yourself, re-introduce yourself, be enlightened and supportive, produce, deliver and collect. Be involved, talk to people, be interested, do personal follow up. Do not rely on luck or the benefit of others entirely. Help is okay, being present is a whole other thing. Be present. People are looking at you, better you than a employee salesman without you.
2 Corinthians 8:21: “For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man”
Discipline #2: MARKETING What’s the difference between marketing and sales? Marketing you’re not there. Marketing is website, social media, ad formats, AI. In sales, they learn about you because you’re standing there. Marketing is what people see when you’re not there. Make sure your message to the world is accurate, updated and true.
Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold”
Discipline #3: ACCOUNTING. Know your numbers, everyday all the time, period. Check them, re-check them. Margins, costs, profit is different than margin. Profit is taxable, margin is cash on the table for next month. CREDIT is not the answer to incorrect book keeping. Get the books right. If you can’t get somebody else to do it, you do it with a pen and a piece of paper until you get it right.
Proverbs 11:1: “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight”
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
Discipline #4: LAW. We never pay attention to the law until we break it, right? Right. DMV, Construction Permits, IRS payments and legal disagreements, interest, penalties, bankruptcy, re-organization, taxes, employment, workers comp, slip and fall, personal liability, personal guarantees, charge cards, lines of credits, all these things are a part of law that is not a common knowledge base. Know what you’re signing, know what you have already signed. It’s not up to the attorney, it’s up to you to know what the attorney should do, period.
Encourage Early Settlement: Jesus taught to settle with an adversary quickly on the way to court to avoid greater consequences [Matthew 5:25].
Legal matters must be handled with truthfulness, prohibiting false testimony [Proverbs 14:21].
Discipline #5: QUALITY CONTROL. Here’s an expensive statement, “I hire people to do that for me.” Those eight words have tanked more companies than you can count. Solution: Micro-Manage everything yourself. Over see all that God has given you, everyday, all the time, without fail. You may not be able to physically do all of it, but you can definitely have eyes on all of aspects of your production schedule, delivery and collections. Many wise-guy people tell me, “well, what about corporations that have operations all over the world, they don’t micro-manage?” Yea, okay. To those wise-guys: “How about talk to me when you have operations all over the world.”
Galatians 6:5 states that “each will have to bear his own load,” emphasizing individual responsibility for conduct.
Proverbs 27:23 “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds,” which applies to managing responsibilities, work, and relationships.
Acts 20A Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
Discipline #6: KNOWLEDGE. I have no knowledge of anything good without God. I must start there. Looking at things to be done with an eye of a believer, even as I struggle is better. How to learn to make things correct is an on going thing. It is never a one time or sometime study. To course correct daily, to agonize over what would be the absolute best way and to do so quickly, diligently, with a heart to serve and be better. Know the difference between what you want to do, and what God needs to be done.
Paying attention to Disciplines 1-5 will yield knowledge of many situations. Asking God for the will to correct challenges, incorrectness and the continued hunt for those things that will, left unchecked, disrupt what God has made for me. The humility to never feel, that, “I’ve got it from here.” Being aware daily, gathering information daily, especially with things I am not comfortable with. If it be accounting, go continually to that area until I understand. Challenges with cash flow, collection, to continue current conversations each and every day on all projects, learning what is being done and what is not. Pray, read the book, correct fellowship, no co-signing personal goals, wants, desires. Let God lead, learn how to do that.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Proverbs 11:14a Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
Discipline #7: DIRECTION. The least respected and most important. God sends competent, correct direction, people, teachers, scripture, many opportunity to course correct, re-direct. Either you do or you don’t, either you take direction or you don’t. Discernment requires a daily walk with God, or you will be fooled. The devil is all about fooling you. Not once, but many times.
He masquerades as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) to make deceptive, harmful ideas appear appealing or spiritually superior.
Generally what the Lord wants me to do is inconvenient and uncomfortable. Believers or unbelievers, Godly or not, direction without God leads to problems. The Holy Spirit is the power behind good living, righteous living, honorable practices and long term benefit.
Psalm 119:66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
Sales, Marketing, Accounting, Law, Quality Control, Knowledge and Direction, seven corporate disciplines, seven life disciplines. None of us can do any of them without God, I’ll lie to myself about each one and so will you. Without mastering 47, you will be at a severe deficit and easy prey for predators.
The famous quote “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players” comes from William Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It”. This quote, delivered by the character Jaques, suggests that life is like a play, and people are like actors who play different roles throughout their lives. We all decide which part we play, it’s a choice, the fool, or God’s purpose. God’s purpose is inconvenient, the fool is intolerable —
Great quote: given the choice wouldn’t you rather God be for you?
Luke 21:15 ESV For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
Chapter 47 The Seven Disciplines, yet another workbook chapter. Work being the operative phrase. What will you do with the opportunity to study 47? Choose wisely with your time and don’t be fooled by that ugly spirit of arrogance. Remember, none of these things can be done one and done. It is a way of life, a choice of truth from now on. Rise up, be glad for the day the Lord has made and all opportunities given. Chapter 47, the Seven Disciplines.
Amen.
Extra Credit Scripture:
The Source: True knowledge and wisdom come from God, not humanity (Proverbs 2:6).
The Foundation: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge/wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10).
The Purpose: Wisdom is to be used for living rightly, making good decisions, and understanding God’s will (Ephesians 5:15-17).
The Source of Wisdom: God gives wisdom generously to those who ask him (James 1:5).
Divine Connection: All treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (Colossians 2:2-3).
