If I’m being honest, prayer has not always been my strong point. I’ve had seasons where I settled for what I call “drive-by prayers”—quick words like, “Lord, You already know, just help!” or rushing through grace with, “Jesus wept. Amen.” Looking back, I realize how often I neglected prayer, even though 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us, “Pray without ceasing.”
That inconsistency revealed something deeper: I wasn’t being diligent. And if I’ve struggled with diligence in prayer, I wonder—where might you be neglecting God’s Word in your own life? Today’s reminder is simple but powerful: BE DILIGENT.
Quoting BibleHub, they beautifully define the word, diligent as this: “a steady, earnest, and energetic effort in pursuing a task or goal. In the biblical context, diligence is often associated with faithfulness, hard work, and perseverance in spiritual and practical matters. It is a virtue that is highly esteemed and encouraged throughout Scripture.”
Whoa— immediately, I feel convicted (thank you, Holy Spirit). If diligence is steady, earnest, and energetic effort, then how many times have we fallen short? But here’s the real question: how do you and I actually become more faithful in all things concerning life and godliness?
The Apostle Peter gives us the roadmap in 2 Peter 1:5–7. I like to picture it as a chain. Each link being connected to one after another until it reaches God’s transformative goal: love.
It begins with faith, the foundation. Without faith in Christ, nothing else can grow. By trusting in God’s word daily each of us are cooperating with God which builds our faith in Him. Linked to faith is moral excellence or virtue, which is living out obedience to God’s Word. From there comes knowledge—not just facts. As we draw closer to Him by studying His Word, seeking Him in prayer, and walking alongside fellow believers, our understanding of Him will grow. The next link is self-control, the fruit of the Spirit. It must touch every part of us—our appetites, emotions, desires, and impulses. We must willingly place them under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit. Then self-control strengthens us to show perseverance in trials. When our will grows weak, the Holy Spirit equips us to endure faithfully, helping us stand firm like good soldiers. Perseverance opens us up to godliness. They serve as a consistent witness of faith, persevering despite difficulties while reflecting Christ’s nature which is godliness. Here is the key: Perseverance is how we endure, but godliness is how we endure like Jesus. And godliness produces brotherly kindness. Jesus’ example of helping, forgiving, and bearing with one another is what is meant by brotherly kindness.The final link in the chain is love. It reflects God Himself. This agapē, God’s unconditional love, is the end result of all growth. (“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7)
Our encouraging takeaway: We become more faithful in all things by diligently cooperating with the Holy Spirit as He grows us link by link to be more like Jesus.