Day 6 — 5 Ways to Be More Consistent in 2025
[Note: This was originally published on January 6, 2025]
You will probably never hear anyone say, “He’s a model of consistency” when referring to me. If you ask my friends to describe me, they would likely use words like creative, passionate, extremely good-looking, and perhaps even delusional. However, “consistent” is not a word they would use.
This is an area I want to improve. I dream of becoming an inspiring, life-changing, transformational, and catalytic person whom God can use to make a difference in the world. However, none of that can happen if I can’t learn to be faithful, dependable, and consistent. I’ve learned that consistency always comes before greatness.
Someone once said the secret to success in any endeavor is “doing the basics well most of the time.” Usually, at the beginning of a new year, I set unrealistic BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). This year, I’m taking a different approach. I’m focusing on consistency instead.
In Ephesians 5:15–21, Paul issues an urgent plea to the Church to stop living foolishly:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15–21)
In this passage, Paul is direct and forceful. There is a sense of urgency in his writing. He commands God’s people to “pay careful attention” to how they live their lives (v. 15) and implores them not to waste the time and opportunities they have been given because “the days are evil” (v. 16).
Paul provides us with twelve action statements in rapid succession:
- Pay careful attention
- Walk wisely
- Make the most of the time
- Don’t be foolish
- Understand God’s will
- Don’t get drunk with wine
- Be filled by the Spirit
- Speak to one another
- Sing
- Make music
- Give thanks always
- Submit to one another
That’s quite a list! When I looked up this passage in the original Greek text, I began to understand the power of Paul’s exhortation. Each of these action statements is written in the “present tense.” In Greek, the “present tense” means not just “do it now,” but also “start it now and keep on doing it.”
Additionally, the majority of these action statements are given in the “active voice,” which emphasizes the necessity of making a conscious decision. Paul is urging us to actively choose to obey these instructions.
He tells the Ephesian believers — and us — to be consistent in how we live our lives. Choosing to follow Jesus is not a one-time decision; it is a lifelong commitment. If I want to be more consistent, I need to actively choose to follow Jesus today. Then tomorrow morning, I must make the same choice again. And again the next day.
Consistency in our faith is built by repeatedly choosing to follow Jesus day after day.
This passage has highlighted several areas where I need to grow. To help me become more consistent in my faith, I am committing to five daily choices:
- Choose to seek to know and understand God’s will for my life each day.
- Choose to be led by God’s Spirit and not by worldly influences (such as wine and social media).
- Choose to invest in God’s people by encouraging and exhorting them.
- Choose to say “Thank You” to God for everything, even the difficult things.
- Choose to honor God by releasing control and not insisting on my own way.
This is how I plan to cultivate greater consistency in my faith in 2025. How about you? How will you work on growing in consistency this year?
Let’s work on becoming more consistent together!
Always onward,
Thien
