Your Integrity Travels With You

I’m a day late posting this week, but for good reason.

I’m currently on the North Carolina coast, enjoying some much-needed vacation time with my extended family. There’s nothing quite like a beach trip with my wife, kids, siblings, and parents. It’s the kind of week that fills my soul with joy and, hopefully, ends with a little more energy in the tank.

But even on vacation, God is at work.

This summer, I’ve been walking through a leadership and discipleship initiative with a great group of guys. Recently, one of the men shared that he’s been slowly reading through the book of Proverbs as part of his devotional life. That stuck with me. There’s something about the pace and wisdom of Proverbs that’s perfect for cultivating spiritual depth—especially during the summer. So, I took his advice and began reading. This morning, I returned for a second time to Proverbs 5.

It’s a chapter clearly aimed at men—especially young men—with strong warnings about the dangers of sexual temptation. It doesn’t hold back. Proverbs 5 reminds us to steer clear of the seductive path of sin and instead to walk the road of righteousness, wisdom, and self-control.

That struck me in a fresh way this week, especially being at the beach. Even though I’m soaking up time with family and having a blast with my kids, I’m also surrounded by opportunities for temptation. The beach is a place of rest and beauty—but it can also be a battlefield for the eyes and the mind.

That’s where the wisdom of Proverbs works like armor. The call to discipline isn’t seasonal. It doesn’t take a break when we do. As Proverbs 5:23 says, “He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” That’s a heavy but necessary reminder. Whether I’m in the pulpit, in a meeting, or on the sand with my family, I want to live like a man who is faithful to Jesus and faithful to my wife—not just in actions, but in thoughts, desires, and focus.

So even on vacation, I’m praying for a disciplined heart, mind, and set of eyes. Not because I want to ruin the fun—but because I want to finish the race. I want my life to end with the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And that means saying no to temptation even while saying yes to rest, fun, and joy with the people I love most.

Here’s the bottom line: Even on vacation, discipline matters.