Self-Control, Willpower, and the Way of Jesus: Breaking Habits and Finding Freedom - w/ Drew Dyck

Voxology

Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2019

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if the secret to real freedom isn't self-indulgence but self-control? In the kickoff episode of our new Discipline Series, Mike Erre sits down with author and editor Drew Dyck to unpack the biblical and neurological foundations of self-discipline—and how it’s far more about surrender than striving. They dive deep into Drew’s book, “Your Future Self Will Thank You,” and explore how self-control seen through the lens of scripture is the path to true flourishing, not restriction.

This is not just a discussion about breaking bad habits—this is a reimagining of how spiritual maturity, neuroscience, and Christian identity intersect. Whether you're trying to kick a scroll addiction, start reading your Bible regularly, or simply understand why "letting go and letting God" isn't the whole picture, this conversation brings meaningful insights and practical next steps.

Key Takeaways:
• Self-Control as Surrender – Biblical self-control isn't just about willpower, it's about putting God and others ahead of self.
• Willpower Is Limited, Habits Are Powerful – Why willpower depletes fast—and how developing keystone habits like prayer, exercise, or Bible reading builds spiritual and practical resilience.
• The Gospel & Growth – Self-discipline isn't about earning salvation but is essential for sanctification, the Spirit-empowered journey of becoming more like Jesus.
• Habits That Stick – Learn how “cues,” “routines,” and “rewards” work together to create and replace habits that sustain long-term change.
• Sin, Grace, and Striving – Why real spiritual transformation engages both God's grace and human effort, and how effort doesn’t oppose grace—it invites it.

Guest Highlights:
Drew Dyck – Editor at Moody and author of “Your Future Self Will Thank You: Secrets to Self-Control from the Bible and Brain Science.” Drew shares insights from his book, gets real about his own spiritual disciplines (or lack thereof), and offers gentle but convicting wisdom for Christians struggling to form healthy habits in a distracted world.

Resources Mentioned:
• “Your Future Self Will Thank You” by Drew Dyck – [Link]
• “The Tech-Wise Family” by Andy Crouch – [Link]
• “12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You” by Tony Reinke – [Link]
• Galatians 5:22–23 – The Fruit of the Spirit passage
• Dallas Willard quote: “Grace is not opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning.”

Take a next step in your own journey toward spiritual discipline and Christlikeness by engaging with these resources and practices. If you found this conversation helpful, share it with a friend or tag us on Instagram to continue the discussion!

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As always, we encourage and invite discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email questions to [email protected], and engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford
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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to [email protected], and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

We're on YouTube (if you're into that kinda thing): VOXOLOGY TV.

Our Merch Store! ETSY

Learn more about the Voxology Podcast

Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify

Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon

The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio

Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre

Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy

Transcript

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0:00.0	And I'd argue, at least speaking from a kind of a biblical perspective, if you are disciplined, quote unquote, to pursue some selfish end, you don't actually have self-control.
0:18.0	You've already failed the first big self-control test, and that is the ability to put your own desires aside.
0:28.6	Hey, everybody, Mike Erie here.
0:30.5	So glad you were tuning in.
0:31.9	Thank you for spending some time with us.
0:34.9	Welcome to the Vox podcast.
0:36.3	I am here with a very special guest all the way
0:39.9	from Portland, Oregon. Where, what's the temperature, Drew? What is the temperature out there?
0:44.6	It's like a balmy 50 degrees and it's actually sunny. Hey, yeah, we have this thing in the northwest
0:50.7	called Breakthrough Sunshine where you get like three minutes of sun
0:54.7	and everyone goes outside and just-
0:56.2	Oh, soaks it in.
0:57.5	I know, listen, and I think the only place more depressing
1:00.8	maybe than that is Columbus, Ohio,
1:03.5	where it is a brisk 17 degrees heading to minus six.
1:07.4	So we're very excited about that.
1:08.9	The polar vortex, bro.
1:10.6	It's a thing. It's a thing. It's coming down from
1:12.0	the early. I used to, I used to, when I was in California, I used to mock them about El Nino and then
1:17.0	I discover, no, that's a real thing. And I'm doing the same, learning the same lesson with
1:21.2	polar vortex. Now, Drew, let's, I want to introduce our audience to you.
1:40.2	And your last name is spelled D-Y-C-K, which, and pronounced Dick evidently, which I just learned, because I'd pronounce it something else all these years that I've, I've been following you.
	...

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