The discipline of devotion
the underrated act of showing up
“The only way to become excellent is to be endlessly fascinated by doing the same thing over and over. You have to fall in love with boredom.””
What Do Kobe Bryant, Amon-Ra St. Brown and farmers have in common?
Kobe Bryant’s training routine was legendary. In the off-season, he trained 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 6 months straight. During the season, he still put in 4 hours daily. Rain or shine, he took 700–1000 shots every single day.
NFL wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown catches 202 footballs from a JUGS machine daily. Whether it’s after practice or at home, he’s out there sharpening his reflexes and muscle memory.
And farmers? They farm—sowing, fertilizing, protecting, adjusting and nurturing their crops day after day. Farming isn’t a one-time act; it’s a daily discipline.
So what do these three have in common? They all show up consistently. They’ve each mastered the discipline of repetition and commitment, even when it’s hard, boring, or inconvenient.
As ministry leaders—and as followers of Christ—we need to embrace that same discipline, especially when it comes to our faith. We often show up for others (students, family and volunteers), but how often do we truly show up for God?
Like athletes and farmers, spiritual growth comes from consistent, often unseen, effort. It’s not always exciting or immediately rewarding. But over time, it brings life, strength and fruit.
The Apostle Paul put it this way:
“Whatever one sows, that will he also reap... let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” | Galatians 6:7-9, ESV
The sentiment here is that what you sow into now, you will reap a harvest later. So, what are you sowing into?
What does your time with God look like?
What are you prioritizing your days around?
What are you watching, reading, or consuming?
What are you sowing into - the Spirit or the flesh?
Author Ryan Holiday states,
““Consistency is a superpower. Day-to-day willpower is incredibly rare…you don’t always have to always have to be amazing. You do always have to show up.””
The same applies to your walk with God. Every day, open His Word. Every day, pray. Not for show. Not just when you feel like it. But because the health of your soul—and your ministry—depends on it. Jesus agrees:
“Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” | John 15:5, ESV
Let me restate that for the people in the back; apart from Christ, you can do nothing. You’ll just be rotting and fruitless on the ground, wondering why your life and ministry is falling apart.
If you understand that, I hope your life reflects it. If it doesn’t, my prayer is that you make the changes needed to remain consistent and disciplined in showing up in your time with God. Remember, it will not always be easy, fun, or even revelatory, but it is the necessary discipline required for your life to be abounding in the strength, vitality and harvest that God calls you to. It may take a while to actually receive the harvest, but do not give up, for in due season, you will reap (Gal. 7:9).
So keep sowing and keep showing up.
