A high school student that has a goal of becoming a member of the professional community will be motivated to get to school on time, to complete his assignments, and to stay out of trouble. The goal of becoming an attorney, a doctor, a pastor, or a teacher makes those long classes in Literature, those endless algebraic equations, and those grinding reviews of Spanish grammar worthy of being endured. An athlete in pursuit of a slot on the team or a medal in competition will sacrifice leisure and play, will endure pain, will set aside certain foods so that he can be in tip-top condition. If she has a dream, she'll more likely defer sexual activity. A Christian desiring close fellowship with God and to be effective for God in this world will also put himself through certain practices that the Holy Spirit uses to develop a person's character.
Disciplines are the means to a desirable end.
We cannot long endure the regimen of a disciplined life without a clear and attainable goal. That is true whether we are discussing educational preparation, dieting, body-building, or becoming a person who lives in the image of Christ. It is God's declared purpose for every saved, Spirit-filled Christian that we should be filled with the holiness and the beauty of Jesus Christ. Sadly, I am forced to the conclusion that this noble statement is, in general, more theory than practice. We are not all we could be because of a failure to practice disciplines .