The Sun, The Moon and The Scriptures

I’ll explain but first— a word about consistency.

Why is rhythm important?

It’s like asking “Why is a bowl important to having soup?”

Obviously, the experience of the soup is the main point, but the bowl holds it all together for the tasting. Similarly, the building of a relationship with God is the main event, but having rhythm is the tool that keeps the relational arc in focus and forward moving.

Every important relationship has rhythm. You can’t build a relationship without it.

I am not consistent with God because I must be, or I ought to be. I am consistent with God because I want to be. It cannot be any other way. It’s hard to build relational history with him if I’m sloppy in my relationship with him. When my steadiness wanes, so does my catalogue of stories with God.

The Sun

It rises every day. When I wake up in the morning, I address God first.

I just tell him good morning. I’ll admit that I need him to get my day right. I place my cares at his feet. I offer gratitude. All this before my head comes off the pillow. Most mornings it’s less than 5 minutes. But it’s first.

The Scriptures

After I rise, most mornings I sit in my chair and read a small portion from the scriptures. As some point of curiosity or heart fascination rises into my thoughts, I write down what I’m thinking. Sometimes it’s fifteen minutes, other days it’s more like forty-five, but a little every day.

I journal my way through the scriptures—the stories, the promises, the poetry, the advice, the narrative from front to back are telling me who God is and what he is like. Some days something surfaces that feels personal—like God is speaking to me specifically. Whatever my experience on a particular morning the scriptures draw me near to Him.

I’ve created a holy habit out of it. It helps me stay consistent with him. I started many years ago. Without setting a goal, I just began. Then I kept going until I journaled my way through the whole Bible. It took 12 years. Now, I’m going through for a second time. Just one bite-sized piece at a time. Rhythm.

The Moon

I’ve recently taken up a new prayer at the end of my day. My ear caught the prayer from the lips of Jesus as played in the series The Chosen. I added my own twist, and it goes like this:

“Blessed are you Lord God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, King of the Universe. Send peace to my soul, healing to my body, sacred purpose into my hands and feet, and slumber to my eyes.”

Most nights, this is the last thing I say or think. Then I drift into the goodness of sleep unchallenged. A good night’s sleep is powerful medicine but nothing as good as the reward of accumulated history with God. That is the real treasure of consistency. It tees up my life for stories with God.