I recently read a Chris Brown tweet that essentially said, “Beware: Shortcuts can be quick solutions to fewer results.”
Moving forward in life or in your walk with God comes with determined consistency. People that excel at anything in life have figured out how to be consistent over longer periods of time. As Dave Ramsey says, "Consistency over time = momentum."
Do you want to have momentum in your life?
Here are 3 ways to help you develop habits of consistency.
1. Mark your spot. Years ago, a professor told me that when we sit in a specific place and combine it with an action, over time our minds automatically begin that habit when you are in that place. In other words, if I sit at the table, my mind is going to think, “Hey, it must be time to eat!” And so I will get hungry.
Make a particular spot for time with God. I have been doing devotions in the same chair for years. Every time I sit in that chair, I think, “Hey I should read my Bible or pray.” I now have that chair programmed in my mind as a spot to connect to God. It is my sacred spot.
Make yourself a place where you sit and pray, or read, a place where you don’t do things that aren’t associated with God. Don’t sit in that place to watch TV or to scroll through your Twitter feed. Save that spot for God!
2. Get at it early.When you are driving a car, you don’t put on your seat belt after you get to your destination; you put it on before you leave. God is our guide for the day—our safety net and lifeline. You gotta put the time in beforeeverything goes wrong, not after. I always find my days run better when I connect with God in the morning.
Many people want to have devotions late. I find the best time for a consistent relationship is early. For me it works, because my mind is brightest in the morning. There are fewer distractions in the morning, too, and I am less likely to fall asleep while praying or reading in the morning. I think it also says to God that I care about my time with Him. Why? Because I have to be intentional about getting up early. I have to make a choice, and I think that says to God, “Lord, I value our time together.”
The Bible says to redeem your time*. It’s valuable, and I want to get the most out of my time every day, so I start by giving that time to God.
3. Make a decision.Whenever I wanted a new job or, when I was single, when I tried to date a particular girl, I would make a decision to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal. With God, we also need to make a decision to pursue Him. It is a choice you have to make; a priority you have to set. You cannot expect to put a relationship on the back burner and get the results you need. Make a decisiontodaythat you are going to pursue God.
I am part of a young adult ministry called PSALM704 (you can find out more at PSALM704.com), but the purpose of that ministry is summed up in Psalms 70:4, and I like how the biblical paraphrase “The Message” says it: “Let those on the hunt for you sing and celebrate. Let all who love your saving way say over and over, ‘God is mighty!’”
Hunt for God; be desperate for him. If you pursue him, you will sing and celebrate.
* Ephesians 5:16
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