Do you want to advance as fast as possible into ALL that God has for you? If so, let’s discuss one of the keys to divine advancement that will help you if you level it up: the key of unusual diligence.

Diligence is hard for all of us at times, including for me. And yes, I’m writing about diligence to encourage you, but I’m also writing about it because I need daily conviction in this area as well!

However, today, in Part 7 of our series 9 Keys to Divine Advancement, as we talk about building a lifestyle of unusual diligence, I believe the Lord is going to help all of us to tighten up our habits . 🙂

First, what is “diligence” or “being diligent”?

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “diligence” as:

“Steady, earnest, and energetic effort: persistent and careful hard work.”

That is certainly a good definition, as well as an inspiring and impactful one. However, if you look at the original Hebrew for “diligent,” it provides an even more striking mental picture.

In the Hebrew, the word for “diligence,” together with its root word, shows us something even more specific than slow and earnest effort.

In Hebrew (for example in Proverbs 10:4), the word speaks of having a pointed implement, like a shovel …

… that you stir yourself up on purpose to use …

… mining gold and other treasures in a determined fashion, or even threshing wheat …

… by digging things up/out, or by moving everything out of the way that is in the way.

Read that again.

Friend, diligence attacks something and digs into it in order to get a treasure out. It attacks that thing with the proper sharp, pointed tool. It digs and digs and keeps on digging, in a methodical and determined way, until the thing is accomplished and the treasure is unearthed.

That will preach.

Are you praying for any treasures to be unearthed in your life right now?

For example:

• Have you been believing God for a new job?
• Are you asking God to improve your health?
• Do you desperately want to go back to school?
• Do you want to purchase a house of your own?
• Do you long to build a ministry of your own?
• Have you been thinking about starting your own business for oh-so-long?

If you are yearning to accomplish any dream that is in your heart, that dream is your “treasure.” And diligence is going to be the shovel you use to dig the treasure out of the ground and bring it into manifestation.

Yes, no matter what your dream is, diligence is a big key to your success.

And not only diligence, either. Unusual diligence is going to be important … because we live in what is often a lazy society. And amongst a lazy, drifting society, people are definitely going to think it is unusual when they look at you and see you going against the grain of the secular culture of death.

Nevertheless, be diligent anyway, knowing that your diligence will make you different; because even at a basic level, the way the Bible defines diligence far exceeds what most people presume counts as “diligence” today.

So what does the Word of God, the Bible, say about the importance of diligence?

Let’s look at what the Bible says about being diligent:

First, diligence helps not only your pocketbook, but also satisfies your very soul:

“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4 NKJV).

And diligence does make you rich financially as well:

“He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4 NKJV).

Being diligent also elevates you to rulership:

“The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 12:24 NKJV).

And of course, that’s important because we are called to be the head, and not the tail; above only, and not beneath, according to Deuteronomy chapter 28. But additionally, we are commanded to be diligent “to make [our] call and election sure,” as we read in 2 Peter chapter 1:

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11 NKJV).

And then we learn from Colossians that diligence is actually a form of worship, for it is done directly unto the Lord:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV).

Wow! That’s a lot!

Friend, diligence is important. And it’s clear that diligence is a huge key to divine advancement.

So what does diligence look like for you and me today?

Well, I do want to first repeat our key phrase of “unusual diligence.” Any level of diligence at all is probably going to make you stick out among your peers, as many people drift through life aimlessly, without any level of diligence at all.

Also, modern culture rewards and teaches laziness and the utter lack of diligence. So, if you choose to be diligent, you are choosing to be different.

But once you make that choice to be uniquely diligent, what does diligence look like?

It looks like:

• Getting a vision for your life;
• Making a goal and a plan;
• Methodically applying your resources (time, labor, money, headspace, etc.) toward that goal;
• Purposely saying no to things that would infringe on your diligent and faithful process; and
• Staying focused on your task until the thing is accomplished and the treasure is unearthed.

In order to be diligent, however, you’re going to have to tighten up your habits.

If you are going to work diligently toward a goal, you basically have to become a ruthless auditor of your own life. You have to examine where you’re losing time, energy, resources, and so on, and compare that to what it would look like if you applied yourself with singular focus toward working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

In other words, if you are wasting time somewhere, you have to figure that out–and then stop wasting time.

If you’re lazy in some capacity, you’re going to need to take a hard look at your time management and audit the laziness right out of your schedule.

If you’re a procrastinator, you’re going to have to make a task list for yourself of things to accomplish each day, so you can stay consistently on track toward your goal over time.

The list goes on and on.

Remember what the Hebrew word tells us about diligence:

• It’s like using a pointed implement, such as a shovel (these are your habits, lists, processes, and systems) …
• … that you stir yourself up on purpose to use (this is your goal; the purpose or vision that drives and compels you) …
• … mining gold and other treasures in a determined fashion, or even threshing wheat (this is you knowing the value of what you and God are developing in your life) …
• … by digging things up/out, or by moving everything out of the way that is in the way. (And this is you doing the work, day in and day out, methodically and carefully, to bring the designated dream to pass.)

Friend, diligence will make you rich.

It will make you rich financially, emotionally, and mentally. It will advance you along the road to your destiny, and you won’t get anywhere without it. Being diligent is also a way of showing Jesus you love Him as you offer up your faithful and diligent labor as an offering to Him.

But without diligence, you won’t be able to advance in your destiny very much. If you don’t have a vision and faithfully execute a plan to dig that treasure out of hiddenness and into full revelation, then you aren’t likely to get much of anywhere.

What do you need to do today to implement diligence in your life?

No matter where you are in this process, God can help you. Pray this simple prayer with me:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come before You in Jesus’ name.

Abba Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace, which are new every day. Thank You for seeing me, and for telling me that all things are possible to those who believe–but that, without you, I can do nothing.

Abba Father, I need Your help to develop this habit of diligence. Would You help me today? Please teach me every moment of every day how I can be diligent in that moment. Renew and strengthen my hope and courage, Lord, so I won’t get overwhelmed when I look at the journey before me, and at all that needs to be done. Please help me to keep my eyes on You; and that, whatever I do, I would do it heartily, as to You, and not unto men; for I serve You, Lord Christ.

Lord Jesus, Abba Father, and sweet Holy Spirit, please form this fruit of diligence in me. Bless me also as I learn to obey You in this area through the empowerment of Your Holy Spirit Who lives in me.

Thank You, Abba Father. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

Beloved, is the Lord speaking to you about diligence right now? Do you desire this fruit, discipline, and habit in your life–that of being diligent, so your soul can be enriched and your life can be blessed? If so, leave a comment below!