Day 10: Sacred Rhythms—Preparation Before Impact

As discussed yesterday, connecting with others through your presence requires rhythm and structure. As Christian leaders, that begins with connecting with God, and our prayer and devotion habits trickle into other areas of our lives until we have defined sacred rhythms. These rhythms aren’t about rigid schedules or mindless routines but consistency, clarity, and commitment to purpose.

Let me illustrate this with a story.

Carlos Hathcock was a legendary Marine sniper whose most famous mission required him to crawl over a mile across enemy lines to take out a high-value target. You read that right. He crawled over a mile, inch by inch, through tall grass and hostile terrain. It took him four days. He endured fire ants, sunburn, dehydration, and enemy patrols so close that they nearly stepped on him. And yet, he never flinched. He neutralized his target and crawled back out, unseen.

You don’t achieve something like that by improvising. You do it through rhythm, discipline, and deep purpose. Every movement was intentional, and every pause was planned. He moved with the mission in mind.

Now, here's the fundamental truth: Jesus modeled the same discipline.

Before Jesus taught, healed, rebuked, or led crowds, He pulled away. He sought the Father. Over and over again, Jesus shows us what sacred rhythm looks like.

• Luke 6:12 NIV–“Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
• Mark 1:35 NIV–“Very early in the morning…Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
• Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, and John 6:15 all show Jesus retreating to pray before a major move.

Jesus didn’t rush to the mission. In doing so, He would've rushed to failure. He prioritized presence with the Father. Sacred rhythms always begin with connection before contribution.

Remember C.C.T.V. from yesterday? It's not just a productivity tool; it's a leadership tool that allows you to establish a rhythm rooted in purpose. With that in mind, let's reuse that structure:

C.C.T.V. Through a Sacred Lens

C – Checklists

Jesus didn’t heal every person or respond to every crowd, but He always did what the Father sent Him to do. A sacred checklist isn’t about tasks; it’s about alignment. Ask: Does this task align with my purpose?

C – Clocks

Jesus made time to be alone with God. He didn’t squeeze prayer in; He scheduled around it (that's worth reading again). What if we blocked our calendar based on time with God before time with others?

T – Timers

A timer creates urgency and forces presence. Set aside protected time to reflect, pray, or be still. Let your timer guard what matters most, not just what’s most urgent.

V – Voices

Whose voice do you seek first? Your boss’s, your audience’s, or your Father’s? Jesus tuned His ear to the Father before responding to the crowd. Let God’s voice shape your identity and intention.