“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.”
– Psalms 68:19

There are no shortcuts in the arena of sports. Coaches and athletes learn quickly that high expectations and the lack of daily effort are a recipe for failure. One of the great lessons of sport is that it takes a daily commitment to get better. We have all seen athletes with great physical talent fail to reach their potential because they lack the desire to pay the daily price necessary for improvement. A recent trip to the gym reminded me that this principle is true in most every area of our lives. Looking around the room I saw men and women in their seventies or even eighties lifting weights, and using treadmills or elliptical machines. Why would senior adults make the effort to work out on daily basis? My explanation is that it makes them feel better physically and mentally. They have learned the secret of making a daily commitment to their health. My guess is that their personal lives reflect their efforts. I bet they would tell us they are happier, healthier and enjoy life more than if they simply stayed home.

Daily commitment is important in our spiritual growth too. I always feel better when I spend time with God on a daily basis. I look forward to my regular “talks” with God, not just in the morning or evening, but anytime during the day. Just knowing that God is always there and that He knows my every need is a daily comfort. I have also learned that it’s worth the effort and essential to my spiritual development to spend time in God’s Word on a daily basis. When I do, I never fail to mine that special “nugget” God has put there just for me. God has made a commitment to us too. He always makes Himself available, He is always there for us. He never takes a day off or goes on vacation. God is like a caring father, always there to carry His children.

Heavenly Father, You love us more than we could ever imagine. Teach us to seek You daily. Help us to grow in Your love daily. Convict us to share Your love with others daily. Amen.