“LORD, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.” –  Psalm 88:9.

I love starting new things.

However, my biggest challenge has always been consistency and commitment to what I start.

Indeed, posting this blog on a daily basis over the last few months has been one of my biggest tests of commitment.

As human beings, we all naturally struggle in the area of consistency and discipline, don’t we?

We get excited for the new things that could potentially make our lives better – dieting, exercise, devotions, reading, learning a new skill, etc.

However, the challenge is that of remaining consistent and disciplined.

Leadership guru John Maxwell says the key to personal growth and success is a combination of two words: ‘consistency’ and ‘discipline.’

Maxwell’s Law of Consistency states; “Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing.”   

Maxwell’s famous ‘Rule of 5’ prescribes the things one must do on a daily basis, a habit which he says could transform any person’s life for good.

For Maxwell, his ‘Rule of 5’ are: every day he reads, every day he files, every day he thinks, every day he asks questions, and every day he writes.

What are the five things that you have disciplined yourself to do daily?

In our meditation today, the psalmist says that he prays every day.

Our God demands a daily walk with Him – daily consecration; daily worship; daily service.

Yesterday’s successes or failures were lessons for today’s walk. Today is what matters.

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, manna used to fall daily and they could not keep any for tomorrow’s supply.

It was meant to imply daily dependence on God’s providence for their needs.

It was purely an act of faith – no gathering more manna than today’s need!

John Maxwell’s famous ‘Rule of 5’ prescribes the things one must do on a daily basis, a habit which he says could transform any person’s life for good.

So, when our Lord Jesus taught the disciples to pray that “give us day by day our daily bread,” it was a reminder of God’s daily supply of manna to Israel in the wilderness.

Faith must be practiced on a daily basis; it’s a daily walk of faith.

The psalmist prayed; “Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your Name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:2).

Worship and consecration are a daily affair that should go on daily for life.

Indeed, one of the most important offerings of the Old Testament was the ‘daily offering’ (see Exodus 29:38).

It was supposed to be made daily and perpetually as a sign of spiritual vitality and endless faithfulness to God.

“And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out…the fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out (Leviticus 6:12-13). 

Throughout the Scriptures, believers are called upon to walk with God, daily. 

To His disciples, our Lord Jesus said; “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

 Mark the key word ‘daily.’ Discipleship is a daily affair.

In the Old Testament, God gave instructions that the oil in the lamp in the tabernacle must be replenished daily so that it “burns continually as a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for the generations to come.”

The Christian life is a daily walk in the light.

Today, prayerfully make your ‘Rule of 5’ and commit to be at it daily with consistency and discipline.

Prayer:

Almighty God, teach me to be disciplined and consistent. May every day of my life be a blessing to someone as I keep the fire on the altar burning daily. May I have a closer walk with you, daily walking close to you, for the glory of Your Name, Amen!