“When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed…he continued to pray just as he had always done.” – Daniel 6:10 MSG
HAVE YOU ever started out something with so much vigor and excitement only to find out that the whole thing fizzles out after a few months? That’s the cycle that most of us go through – whether it’s trying to eat a healthier diet, going to the gym, writing a book, or saving money.
We start off by pushing ourselves to the limit only to gradually slow down until we eventually stop and give up. And so the intensity dies out and hence that’s why many say that we should aim for consistently over intensity.
The theory of consistency over intensity says that its better to start off with a routine that is easy, manageable and practical. In other words, something that is realistic and achievable. And that is true of our prayer lives. When we begin our Christian walk we can sometimes set ourselves unrealistic goals of praying one hour every morning and/or reading a chapter of the Bible everyday – only to become inconsistent with it.
Or we find that it’s only when we face a major crisis that we pray with fire and intensity. However, this should not be the case. In the Book of Daniel, when King Darius signed a decree saying that for 30 days, no one is to pray to any god or mortal expect the King himself, the Bible says that Daniel went home to his upstairs room, and got down on his knees and prayed three times day, “Just as he had always done.” (Daniel 6:10 MSG)
Put another way, the new law didn’t mean that Daniel increased his number of prayers a day from once to three times a day – but instead he continued to pray as he had done so previously.
And that’s the place we all need to get to where no matter the circumstances around us we are consistent and persistent in prayer. So as you start off a new week, if have slipped in your prayer life – take small and manageable steps to increase your consistency so that your prayer life will always have a strong foundation. Have a blessed week.
2 Comments
Kobby Kodua · 18th November 2019 at 11:40 am
Bless u Will for emphasising that consistency achieves more than intensity. Good one. More grace.
Dinah · 19th November 2019 at 6:37 am
Even the little drops of water, they say makes a mighty ocean. The daily effort we make brings about great achievement so is our Christian walk. “Consistency is better than intensity”. God bless you Will.