” . . . diligent repetition brings life to someone else. If everything has to be new and interesting all the time, I will miss out on my greatest opportunity for impact and influence.”- Jeff manion
“Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places.”- 1 Samuel 7:15-16 (NIV)
On Days 17 (“The Circle”) and 18 (“Samuel’s Circuit”), Week 4 of Dream Big, Think Small, Jeff Manion stresses that hiking alone fails to support faithful, effective service. Because when you hike alone, no one knows where you are. Perhaps, Pastor Manion observes you:
- struggle in isolation, dying one day at a time
- cut yourself off from people able to help
- withdraw from community and cocoon — at a time when friendship represents your greatest need
Above all, long-term friendship provides the crucial key to keeping engaged and motivated. While it’s possible to plug away for weeks, perhaps months, on your own, you need life-giving community to sustain pouring yourself out year after year. Scripture, Jeff exhorts, gives clear evidence that we must not navigate life alone. God created us for fellowship with Him and with each other.
Furthermore, Pastor Manion points out, our daily grind = a life-giving grind. And, to faithfully and effectively serve others requires a routine of offering faithful acts of service again and again.
For example, consider the Old Testament prophet Samuel. Certainly, the Bible highlights a handful of powerful, explosive events in Samuel’s life. Like God waking him in the middle of the night when he was a small child being raised by Eli the priest. However, a diligent repetition and circuit of faithfulness marked most of Samuel’s life.
During a time of desperate upheaval, Samuel served as a steady and consistent source of guidance to Israel. Jeff concludes:
“At the foundation of any long-lasting influence is the challenge of showing up and putting in effort – again and again and again. That’s the heart of the faithful circuit of dreaming big and thinking small.”
Today’s question: What Scriptures help you engage in diligent repetition? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “A slow and steady injury of the spirit”
