Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Why Godly Living is Important to God

February 1, 2026

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NRSV)

^“Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:7 (NRSV)

“But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” James 1:22 (NRSV)

“For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NRSV)

Sometimes preparing others requires us to pause and allow God to prepare us again. As both a student of the Word of God and an instructor in biblical counseling, I am continually reminded that revisiting foundational truths sharpens both understanding and obedience. Teaching others often exposes the areas where God is still disciplining our own hearts.

As I prepared for this week, and mindful that my BC-1 Self-Confrontation students will soon be taking their exam on “Godliness Through Discipline” by Jay E. Adams, I decided to revisit the book myself. Once again, I was reminded that the pathway to living a godly life is not accidental; it is disciplined.

Godly living matters to God because disciplined hearts reflect His holiness and reveal true transformation. In nursing, we don’t wait for a patient’s condition to deteriorate before intervening. We monitor vital signs, follow the physician’s orders, and implement disciplined care to maintain stability and prevent complications to the degree possible. A plan of care for discharge is also developed to support optimal health moving forward.

In the same way, God has issued His own Standing Orders for the Believer in Christ’s heart. Godly living is not crisis care; it is preventive, sustaining care for the soul. Discipline keeps the heart spiritually healthy and aligned with God’s will. Just as the physical heart requires discipline to function properly, the spiritual heart requires intentional obedience to reflect the character of God.

At its core, Godliness Through Discipline teaches that godly living does not happen accidentally. Godliness is the result of intentional obedience, biblical discipline, and a heart submitted to God’s authority. Dr. Jay Adams makes it clear: discipline is not legalism; it is love expressed through obedience. God values godly living because it reflects His character, honors His holiness, and demonstrates genuine transformation from the inside out.

God is not after Behavior Modification alone, but Behavior does matter because it reveals Heart Transformation!

1. Godliness Is God’s Will, Not a Personal Preference

The Apostle Paul reminds us that in “1 Thessalonians 4:3,“ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.” (ESV)

Dr. Adams emphasizes that godly living is not optional for believers. It is God’s expressed will. Salvation brings us into a relationship with Christ, but sanctification requires disciplined obedience.

God does not merely call us to believe; He calls us to be holy. Godliness reflects God’s nature and distinguishes a Believer in Christ from the world. A lack of discipline leads to spiritual drift, not maturity. Godly living is expected fruit, not extra credit.

2. Discipline Is the Pathway to Godliness

1 Timothy 4:7 “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”

Dr. Jay Adams teaches that godliness grows through biblically informed habits, not emotions or intentions alone.

Discipline involves: Training the mind with God’s Word, training the will to obey regardless of feelings, and training our behavior to align with biblical truth!

This type of discipline is: Purposeful (aimed at godliness, not self-control alone); Consistent (daily, not occasional), and Grace-empowered (dependent on God, not self-effort).

I love this key statement that Dr. Adams makes; he says discipline is not punishment, it is training for transformation.

3. Godly Living Flows From Obedience, Not Circumstances

James 1:22. “James reminds us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Dr. Adams confronts the idea that circumstances excuse ungodly behavior. He teaches that obedience is a choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit, regardless of pressure, pain, or provocation.

~ Godliness is lived out in real life, relationships, trials, and decisions.

~ Obedience proves that faith is genuine.

~ Behavior matters because it reveals the condition of the heart.

Godly Living is important to God because it reflects His Holiness, proves our Obedience, and Demonstrates that True Transformation has taken place in the Heart.

HEART CHECK: Ask yourself. Are you pursuing godliness intentionally or assuming it will “just happen”? Are there areas where I resist discipline because it feels uncomfortable? Does my daily behavior reflect obedience or convenience? Is your heart trained by God’s Word or influenced more by my emotions?

Reflect honestly and prayerfully. Where have you treated godly living as optional instead of essential? What spiritual disciplines have you neglected or resisted? Does your daily behavior reflect obedience or convenience? What “heart condition” might be hindering godly living in your life?

HEART CHALLENGE: This week, choose one Spiritual Discipline: Prayer, Scripture Meditation, Obedience in a difficult area, or Guarding Your Thoughts, and practice it intentionally as an Act of Love toward God. Also, ask God to search your heart daily this week. Pause before responding and choose Spirit-led responses over emotional reactions. Replace reactive behavior with intentional obedience rooted in love. Read Psalms 51:10, which says, ”Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (ESV)

HEART DECLARATION ~ Personal Affirmations

♥ I choose godliness over convenience.
♥ I submit my heart to God’s training.
♥ I will live a disciplined, obedient, and aligned life.

STANDING ORDERS (Daily Administration )

Train the Heart With Truth

1 Timothy 4:7 says, “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”
Daily engagement with God’s Word
Replace feelings-driven living with truth-driven obedience

Godliness begins with a heart trained by truth, not emotion.

Practice Obedience Without Delay

James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
♥ Obey promptly—even when inconvenient
♥ Submit willfully, not selectively

Delayed obedience weakens spiritual discipline.

Guard the Heart Continually

Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart.”
♥ Monitor thoughts, attitudes, and motives
♥ Remove spiritual toxins that hinder growth

What enters the heart determines how we live.

Maintain Spiritual Conditioning

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
♥ Establish consistent spiritual habits
♥ Treat discipline as training, not punishment

Godliness is sustained through consistency, not crisis. Godliness flourishes where discipline is practiced.

REMEMBER:

→ God doesn’t manage or chase symptoms ~ He heals hearts.
→ Godliness is the visible evidence of inward healing.

LET’S PRAY: Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word, which gives us clear instructions on how to live godly. Lord, create in us clean hearts and steady spirits. Help us live in ways that reflect You, Father, not just outwardly, but from the inside out. Heal us from the inside out, so we may shine Your light in dark places, so that we can represent You well. Train us, shape us, and align us with Your will. May our lives reflect Your holiness, our obedience honor You, and our hearts remain sensitive to Your voice. Forgive us for the times we have resisted obedience or treated godliness as optional. Thank You for loving us enough to call us to godly living. Help us to always remember that godly behavior is not about trying harder, it’s about healing deeper. Thank You for not leaving us to figure life out on our own, but for giving us Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your discipline to train our hearts. Today, we surrender our hearts anew. May our behavior be shaped by Your truth, guided by Your Spirit, and rooted in love in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.