“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” — Proverbs 6:6-8 (NIV)
“Inconsistency is the only thing in which men are consistent.” — Horace Smith
Every time my family goes to a Baltimore Ravens football game, we get caught up in chanting “Move those chains!” when the Ravens get a first down. Getting first downs is critical at all levels of football.
At first glance you might think, “Big deal. They moved the ball 10 yards.” But consistently getting first downs eventually leads to touchdowns.
In the NFL and in any sport, the most consistent are also the most successful. The player or team that practices, prepares and performs with the most consistency generally outplays the opponent. And when we “move those chains,” we create and sustain momentum. Consistency is a key component of being “In the Zone!”
Consistency leads to continuous forward progress. It’s defined by being steady, reliable and persistent. Inconsistency, on the other hand, is the enemy of excellence. It takes shortcuts and makes excuses. It results in a lack of progress and improvement. One step forward, two steps back. For many, this defines their health journey.
Consistency is fueled by self-discipline and diligence. In Proverbs 6:6-8, Solomon describes how powerful one of creation’s smallest creatures is because of its diligent activity. The life of the ant is defined by consistency. Unfortunately, our lives are often defined by inconsistency. We start and stop. That’s where we get the “yo-yo” diet concept. Our weight goes up and then back down. (And, usually, back up again.) We have mastered the art of inconsistency.
What we do today affects who we become tomorrow. Many of us don’t understand this simple truth, thinking we can “let loose” for a season and it will have no effect. But let’s face it — what we do today is going to affect us down the road. Sometimes the effect is immediate, while other times it may take a little while to surface.
Being consistent is one of the most difficult things to execute. It doesn’t come naturally for most people. We have to work at it, especially if we are striving for excellence. “Moving the chains” means you will do what it takes to reach your goal. It means doing the little things and the hard things — even when you want to quit, you don’t feel like it, you’re tired, you can’t see the results or, yes, even when things don’t seem to be going the way you think they should.
Less than 20 percent of us get the minimum recommended exercise each week. Personally, I have found that the “every other day” or “three times per week” workout routine doesn’t work for me. Even the Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes of exercise every day. Your body will respond best with regular, frequent, consistent movement. You need to learn to push your body beyond what is easy and comfortable in order to be strong and healthy.
Consistency with making healthy food choices is incredibly difficult in our culture. We face incredible peer pressure to eat a lot and eat often! We spend tons of time thinking about what, when and where we are going to eat. Many of us have no limits on what or how much we will eat. Sometimes I wonder what our body would say to us if it could talk! But, when we feed ourselves healthy food, we can’t believe how much energy we have and how great we feel.
I believe our level of consistency is the same in all areas of life. If we are inconsistent with our physical health, chances are good we are inconsistent in the spiritual, relational and financial areas of our lives as well. How many of us apply consistency and diligence in our spiritual life? Are we hot and cold in our relationships? Do we have mood swings with our money? Do we train ourselves in godliness? Or are we hit and miss? If we’re on-again, off-again, we won’t be prepared for the challenges of life.
“...He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”— Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
Are the things that you’re doing on a daily basis preparing you for what and who you hope to become in the future? A consistent life leads to both internal transformation and external influence. So let’s strive to take action and do the little things that lead to excellence. Let’s move those chains and get “In the Zone!”
Originally Published: November 2012
Note: Adapted from WisdomWalks SPORTS