Yesterday I wrote a message about using our time and how too often God gets squeezed out of our schedules because of all the things we are doing. I’m not talking about frivolous activities, but instead the many items on our to-do lists that need to be accomplished. If you want to read the article, click HERE.
An issue in the responses from readers was having problems with following through on good practices and being consistent. I found myself nodding myself in agreement. Consistency is a big issue. And when we’re not consistent in the activities and habits that really matter, then we’re actually inviting chaos, mediocrity, or lack of achievement into our lives.
I thought this would be a good topic to tackle: Consistency. Because it really is essential for so much in what we do and how we live. Webster defines “consistent” as: always acting or behaving in the same way; of the same quality; especially good each time; continuing to happen or develop in the same way.
Our desire is to be consistent in those areas of our lives that we want to be good and strong, including our faith, our relationships, our financial matters, our households. For now, let’s focus on our faith and our time with the Lord. We want to be consistent with our time with Him, studying His ways, learning His Word, and being transformed as we grow in the love and knowledge of Jesus.
God is consistent – the same always. And not only in His character, but also in His creation. Can you imagine if gravity wasn’t consistent? Or if the planets, the sun, and the moon weren’t consistent? The results would be total chaos and ruin. Consistency is a good quality when paired with good and what is right.
To make consistency one of our character traits requires us to recognize that it’s currently an area of weakness then decide to tackle it so we can change. The next step is to find a plan or a path to follow that will lead us to the desired goal. Then step onto the path and begin our journey.
Perhaps the most important element of this process is making the decision to to tackle the problem and to go after the change. Are we really deciding . . . or is it something we will merely try (and then usually give up when it gets uncomfortable). A decision means doing “whatever it takes” to realize the goal we have set.
Here are a few things that can help on the journey to becoming consistent in the good areas of our life:
One: Choose one or two activities that you want to become consistent in fulfilling. Do you want to consistently meet with the Lord each day for quality time of prayer and study? Do you want to be consistent about getting enough sleep or eating a health breakfast? To start, choose just one or two activities to address. Set yourself up for success!
Two: Review how you’re using your time now and the possible stumbling blocks that might challenge your quest. It’s very possible that you’re trying to accomplish too much. Or that you are way too stretched with obligations and tasks. Are there some things you can do to lighten your load or get some help? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and show you ways you can manage your responsibilities so they don’t overtake or overwhelm you. You may need to stop some activities. For example, a few years ago I found myself so busy with volunteer projects that I was way too pressed. So I chose those projects where I could be most useful and stopped working on the others.
Do you have family members who can help with meals one or two days a week?Or with laundry? Or with yard work? Come up with a plan and then recruit some help. l
Three: Schedule your time and make appointments with yourself that are as “sacred” as an appointment with your pastor or your doctor or your attorney. Value your appointment. Hold true to it. And fulfill it consistently.
Four: Plan a routine within your routine. For example, if you have set a daily appointment with the Lord, develop how you will use the time (being sensitive to His leading). Will you pray, then read a chapter in your Bible, followed with some journaling? Is there a book you will read from to help you in an area of your Christian life? Is there a special “place” where you will have your time?
For me, my best time is to have my quiet time with the Lord first thing in the morning. When I’m not fasting, I make a cup of coffee then climb back into bed surrounded by all my “stuff.” I have my Bible, my journal, pens, my Kindle, and my study books. I most often start the time by reading from the New Testament and then praying. Then I have a daily devotional on my Kindle that I read, plus a book I’m using right now for study. Throughout the time I talk Jesus during little pauses. And then I complete the quiet time with prayer, thanksgiving and worship. I may change the order, but these are the components of my morning time with the Lord. The key is being consistent to have the time! To get that cup of coffee and get into my quiet time before I allow other things to interrupt me.
Occasionally, something will interrupt my time. For example, I had a radio interview last week that took place at 5:30 a.m. (I’m Pacific time and the live radio broadcast was Eastern time). So I had my quiet time immediately following the interview.
Four: After a week of being consistent in your chosen activity, assess the positive growth or benefits you are experiencing. Give thanks and acknowledge the good happening in your life. Celebrate your growth. Give yourself a pat on the back and feel good about the change that is going on inside of you!
Keep On Keeping On
I don’t want you to think that I have the “consistent” thing down. I do in some areas, but in others I’m still working on myself, my time management, and my growth. That’s part of the transformation that we experience as disciples and followers of Jesus. We learn and grow. We get mature. We get better. And all that is good.
My hope for you is that you will choose one or two areas of your life in which you want to be consistent. Then make that decision and go for it! You will be so pleased once you’ve stepped on to the path and then when you’ve completed the journey so that what was once a goal is now a consistent part of your lifestyle.
Please, share your thoughts below! I so appreciate your responses as do others who are working on their own lives to become better, stronger, and more effective for our Lord.
Thank you Ms Gregory Gosh I need consistency in my life I realised when I’m consistent I don’t struggle with everyday life but sometimes I am lazy or feel very low . Please don’t forget me in your prayers. I enjoy your articles but sometimes I don’t have time to respond.
Lungi
hi
thank you kindly Susan , that’s what I have to learn all over again ,is to be CONSISTENT ,also I feel so rejected these past 4 years
that I am not referencing the holy Spirit and the presence of GOD , pls uplift me in prayer
Bless you
charmaine
Hi Everyone,
I am reading about the daniel fast. It’s funny how school prepared me for the fast. It takes discipline to put time aside and go on line to study. It takes the same devotion to follow the fast. For me, God would not have had it any other way. It seems I have been lied to for a long time. You have these diet supplements and a host of other diets that attest to weight loss. Susan you testify in your book of the changes that occur. I questioned that confidence and wondered if you only knew of my sweet struggles. Well everything is true and tried. For me to go into a grocery store and not even look at chocolate and chips is A HUGE STEP. I found out the key with the daniel fast that no other program offers. None addressed my spiritual awareness and healing. I thank God for your ministry. I am on day 7 and I am looking forward to cycling this program throughout my life. Many continuous blessings!
Agape Love!
Praise God, Loretta!
The truth I teach is because it’s His truth! I am blessed by Him to allow me to receive His wisdom and then share it with others.
I am so thankful for your testimony!
God is so good and loves us so very much!
Thank you, dear one!
Thank you so much for this prophetic Word! The Lord has been speaking to me for quite sometime about consistency. I’ve been going through a lot emotionally & financially. I’ve been discouraged & the enemy is trying to attack me with feelings of rejection from God which I know is not true. I’m so overwhelmed & hurt by these situations that I don’t know what to pray anymore except for strength. But I also know from experience that my strength & Joy comes from being in Gods presence. I just haven’t pushed myself into worship & spending quality time with God consistently. Please pray for me.
God will bless you with abundant form in your life. exchange your tears, God is their strength.
This is the day that the Lord has madeI will rejoice and be glad in it!!!! Today is the day that the Lord has given me conformation on the chaotic lifestyle I have been living. First he conform that I need a schedule or block time as Susan puts it, then with the block time he reinsure me that I have to be consistence in my routine in order to see growth and transformation.
Thank you Susan for allowing The God Almighty to use you as a vessel to His children for the advancement of His kingdom.
I struggle with consistency in a few areas of my life, but the areas where I am consistent, I can see the benefits. Knowing that being consistent works I don’t know why it’s taking me so long to get the rest of my life on board…????? But I am thankful and grateful for all the encouragement you send my way Susan, just know that your work is not done in vain. Blessings.
Hi Susan,
I am not consistent. I TRY but it does not work out. I don’t know if I have barriers such as no time or schedule. My troubles seems to be exasperation. I get feed up with trying to keep things consistent that when they go amuck I just allow it to go. I know it is something deep seeded and I am really working on getting past the unknown whatever. It affects all aspects of my life, business, personal and at times emotional. I enjoy your blog and it brings careful and considerate thought to my mind. Have a blessed day!
I am not consistant in alot of ways also. I need a schedule also. But I also need to not beat myself up if I dont meet my own demands or everything I need to do. I needed this helpful message. Tk U
Thank you for this prophetic message ac I think it was meant for ” me” as I am struggling with consistency in many areas of my life. I am renewed and please pray for me for strength to remain focused.
I want to thank you for this article. It was less than e
an hour ago I was talking to the lord as it relates to me being consistent and now I am reading about it. Thank you so very much
Thank you for the encouraging words. I have allowed different things in my life to over load my schedule , which have caused a lot of inconsistencies in my life. This inconsistency have also hindered my walk with the God. Everyday I think I tomorrow will be different & at the end of the day it ends the same. I find myself so tired and when I pray I feel as if I’m just mumbling words, even when I read God’s Word, so therefore I find myself slacking doing both of them.
Thank you for sharing this article with me, now I will begin to work on being more consistent with the walk with the God .
.. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” -Mother Teresa
Hi Susan,
This was a good word for me today. We recently moved my Mom in to stay with us. At the same time I’m working on growing a business plus other obligations. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time in my day most days to get everything accomplished the way I would like. So I find days where I’m getting frustrated easily. I know that consistency is a key for me to achieve those things that are a priority & bring balance. Thank you for sharing that word.
Thank you Susan for the inspiration and encouraging words. I consistently have my quiet time in bed. My goal is move up my quiet time to 45 minutes. Keep me in your prayers.
Many thanks for sharing this article Susan.About a month ago,I asked the Holy Spirit for help in the area of how to develop a routine and be consistent in that routine.I had no idea how to do it as I always found that time seem to catch up with me and pretty soon it was the end of the day and I never did the things I set out to do.You and your obedience in sharing this article is an answer to my prayer.Thank you so much and all praise be to God!
Thanks Susan, it’s an area I am constantly working on, not just spending time with God, but anything that’s “good” for me like eating better and exercising more. So what I will do (again) is create a “daily things to do sheet” and put it on my wall so I have no choice but to see it every day and tick each task off as I complete them. Pray (tick), read (tick), meditate (tick), exercise (tick) etc. That way it acts as a daily reminder and also as a form of accountability and each week I can see what I have achieved each day.
I’m looking forward to your weight & health webinar next week (as it’s all connected), although it will be 1am in the UK so I will have to listen to the replay!
Oh Thanks Susan, this is real insight to our spiritual growth. Many times we’ve tended to take it so simply with the Lord. May the Lord bless you.
Thank you Susan, I do struggle with consistency in every area of my life. I’m going to be consistent from now.
Thanks Susan
I so love this post. It was food for my soul. You are always an inspiration.
I thank the Lord for this article I really appreciate it. I just have issues with being consistent. I will start a routine and then I cannot follow through specially my morning routine with spending time with the Lord. I have 3 kids 41/2,, 3, and a 22 months old. I usually get up around 5 or 6 am to do my devotion, reading and praying. Most nights I find myself going to bed late like 2 or 3 am to catch up with things I was suppose to do during day time (folding laundry, put stuff away or other things). Then I m not able to get up early because I am too tired. I would like some more suggestions on ideas how to be more consistent with my time management
Hi Bertine,
First of all, be gentle with yourself. You have three children under 5 years old! Yikes! That’s a big deal and a lot of work. So give yourself grace and realize that the lovely seeds of love and care you plant into the lives of your children is ministering unto the Lord.
You are in a season of your life with your young children. So do the best you can, but also realize the time you are in. Don’t lose the joy because you feel guilty about not being super mom 100% of the time! A Super Mom is one who love and cares for her children, and you are doing that!
Meanwhile, I do encourage you to look at the article I wrote about Time Blocking. This time management strategy may have some helpful input for you.
Be blessed and know that God is cheering you on!
I appreciate you sharing this post. I struggle w consistency. I strive for perfection and put too many to do’s on my plate. My goal is to focus on a morning routine. I have it schedule blocked; now I just need to start! Off to bed I go…thank you, again for your obedience to what God has called you to share w others.
Thank you for your article. I’m going to be consistence in going to bed between 9:00 and 9:30 pm. My problem is no matter what I do, I’m not able to fall asleep without medication. I’ve gone for two to three day without sleep. I’ve tried everything and do not want to continue taking medicine This week, I will start fasting and praying every Wednesday from 6am to 6pm until I get this problem under control. Please keep me in your prayer. Thank you.
You are in our prayers, Rosemary.
God gives His beloved sleep.
Be blessed.
Thank you for the relevant posts that you have shared with me in the past few days. It feels like God is confirming and showing the paths I should take.
I must say that I’m enjoying the post! Consistency is the key but I do get off track sometimes. I have learned that once you develop a schedule everything else falls in place. The more I get closer to a God the more he speaks to me in so many ways.
Yes! My accountability coach has me using google calendar and every hour is scheduled; prayer and Bible first. Having a scheduled life works and accountability is a wonderful companion.
I really needed this. I struggle with consistently. The points are realistic and I will incorporate them in a couple of areas rather than trying a total makeover and becoming overwhelmed and frustrated. Thank you and be blessed.
Susan:
Thank you for penning such a thought provoking article and reminder to believers how important it is to build positive habits through consistent activity. I schedule my time with God and the word in the morning. My routine is pretty straightforward, i pray upon rising from sleep. I then prepare my coffee and reading material. I have packed my gym bag and chosen my clothes the night before (most of the time). By keeping a schedule it brings the first positive thing to my day and that is a sense of accomplishment. The second thing is a renewing my relationship with God. The third sense is of health ie the gym workout. Finally, my day becomes more focused and energetic (I am a business owner). I hope as you continue to write and encourage our spiritual lives that your teaching continues to grow while bring the spiritual and natural together.
Am so blessed again on this subject on consistency is very helpful. Am a very consistent person but I do get discouraged when I read alot the Bible and pray alot and fast alot I accomplish little and am passing through alot trials and hardships and financial problem. People are leaving my ministry and am facing demonic attacks. Am asking alot of questions. Were is God?
Albert, the devil will always attack when you’re doing something positive for the Lord. There may be a reason people are leaving your ministry. Have you every thought the God removes people out of your life to replace them with people that are meant to be there.
Hang in there and remember to pray through the storm because that’s when your faith is tested the most.
God bless!
thank you for this message! I really need it right now and your suggestions are very helpful. I will start consistency with healthy eating this week.
This is an amazing idea and plan to follow. I too have a routine I tend to follow every morning once I wake up. It’s changed some over the years, but I always try to begin my morning by spending time with the Lord. It gives me peace, comfort, and joy in knowing that I put Him first. I will target something else I can be consistent with as well. Thanks Susan for all your consistencies and for sharing it with the world. You are truly a blessing’.
I can only agree with you whole heartedly and testify that it is most rewarding to stick to your routine everyday, specially with early morning quiet time. I find that I never have enough time with God or to pray. I always need more time and when I just have to get on with the day, I wish I could stay there with HIM, but I continue to talk to God throughout the day in every moment and in everthing I do. By being faithful and ‘on time’, we also sinq with God’s perfect timing for our lives. We need to respect time!
Thank you for using God’s gifts to guide people to the Lord. I really enjoyed this blog because I also started with a few activities a few days ago in the consistency department and your words are very encouraging. God bless you
Thank you for your thoughts. God bless.
thank you very much susan for this word. it is me theholy spirit is talking to i am always busy and i like praying at the midnight hour that is btw 1and 2 but sometimes i am so tired i fall i sleep. this make it that sometimes i dont go to the lord intwo days running that i feel so ad and guilty.
like you said consistensy is the key word
I’m really struggling in my spiritual walk right now and consistency is part of my battle. I don’t feel a connection with GOD or that HIS presence is there would that be a part of my to be consistent?
Hi Lavina,
Know that the Lord is always there. He is IN YOU! So being consistent and visiting with Him will bring you closer to Him so you can experience His presence and His love more and more.
He’s calling you out of His great love for you and His desire to be with you!