It’s what you do that shows what you want, not what you say or think you want. Understanding this gap — the one between what you do and what you say or think — can lead you to the root of many of your problems. But not only problems. It’s also the root of dissatisfaction, frustration, and many disappointments in life.

When you realize the gap between your wishes and your actions, your prayers and your deeds, then you begin to make progress.

Remember, what you do always equals what you want. But what you want doesn’t always equal what you do. In other words, you’ll always end up getting the results of your actions, but you won’t always get the results of your wishes.

I think Paul nailed it when he said, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…” (1 Corinthians 9.27) In order to close the gap between what we want and what we do, we must rein in our emotions, take charge of our time, and be ruthless with our life-wasting habits. It is a war between body and mind, emotions and intelligence.

How can you win this war? Here’s how you can start:

1. Take a close look at what you have been doing. Where is it leading you? Is it where you want to end up? Look at every area of your life – finances, relationships, family, health, spiritual life, etc.
2. Now is the time to be ruthless. What must change? What must you stop doing? What new habits must you acquire? Write things down and keep it simple. You may end up with a long list but remember to prioritize and take one step at a time.
3. Get into a new discipline in your life. This may involve many things like the time you get out of bed, what you eat, your church attendance, family activities, etc. Decide what it is and stick to it.

Start now.