One of the key changes that must take place as you begin to lead others on the journey of discipleship is the recognition of the importance of rhythms. When you are being led on this journey, your leader/guide will hold you accountable for your rhythms, asking about your prayers, scriptural input, and other disciplines. However, as you begin to lead, you won’t always have someone asking you these questions, these you must simply know you need to maintain.
One of my rhythms has been reading through the bible each year. I have done this for close to a decade now and have appreciated the insight that I have gained in looking at the entire story of scripture every year. I don’t necessarily get caught in the minute details during these readings but simply take a bird’s eye view. I don’t always feel like doing my daily reading, I often don’t think I’m getting anything out of it, especially when I am “plowing through” some of the OT books, and yet I have learned to not allow myself to make an excuses but to simply do what I know is beneficial for the long term.
As a leader, I don’t have someone asking me if I’ve read the current day’s portion, I don’t have someone carving out the time I need to make it happen, I’ve simply had to make it a reality that I will not deviate from. This is what leaders do, they first and foremost lead themselves.
As I recently read in my daily reading, even before the Israelites were led out of Egypt, God was giving them rhythms to live by. The Passover meal was established. “You must remember this day forever. Each year you will celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord.” Exodus 12:14 This was only the first of many such daily, weekly, monthly and annual rhythms that God was helping them establish. And why? “Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 8:12-14
I have watched far too many people become “successful” and forget God, and then when life goes off-track, they all of a sudden discover how important these rhythms are. And yet, once life gets back on track, the rhythms also disappear. A leader of others must not succumb to this.
As you lead others, they are looking to you to demonstrate how a disciple of Jesus stays the course. Find your rhythms, stick with them, and establish a life that will not be shaken.