According to a Wall Street Journal article by Sam Walker, navy commanders rely on “battle rhythm," a tactical approach built around routine, repetition, and tempo. The U.S. guided missile carrier alerts for disaster when on patrol. As the enemy vessel is headed directly toward them and gets within 100 feet, they implement emergency maneuvers. The US naval commanders rely on a high level of readiness called Battle Rhythm.
The commanding officer determines the weekly tempo of events, briefings, meetings, drills, and sleep routines. Once the cadence is honed to perfection, the crew begins to focus on a uniform pace. The goal is to help the crew prevail in crisis. Habit forms muscle memory and crowds out panic and hesitation.
The battle rhythm establishes a blueprint for leadership that synchronizes the command, and staff with their schedule and responsibilities to function at the highest form of readiness. Not only are they responsible for $13 billion carriers paid by taxpayers, but the commanders are responsible also for the greater treasure, the men and women in their care, and carrying out the strategic mission, to defend the United States of America.
The navy believes that habit will help the crew prevail in a crisis. The muscle memory will crowd out panic and hesitation. If routine, repetition, and tempo establish the proper discipline and readiness to react in times of crises, then we would be wise to look at these principles when chaos and disorder take over our own lives.
Unexpected crises lurk in every corner; disease, job loss, bankruptcy, unexpected moves, inflation, political unrest, and family gatherings are just a few on the list of frustration and conflict. To prepare for difficult times, what practices, habits or routines will be necessary to ready us for when calamity strikes?
According to 2 Tim 1:7,” For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
According to Dallas Willard, the Discipline of Abstinence includes solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy, and sacrifice. The discipline of Engagement is study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession, and submission. (www.groundworkonline.com)
While looking at these lists and determining the schedule of events, meetings, and routines that will capture our walk of spiritual discipline, read Psalm 81 and glean the verbs: SING, HEAR, LISTEN & FOLLOW. These are simple acts of devotion done in routine, and repetition, and frequently bring glory to God.
SING: Focuses our attention on God in prayer, praise & thanksgiving., and forces us to worship Him rather than pity ourselves
HEAR: Silence, solitude, worship & celebration
LISTEN: Confession & service
FOLLOW: Submission, sacrifice, and fellowship
We hold our ground and face our new unpleasant reality with new and different weapons of war, we SING, HEAR, LISTEN & FOLLOW. The war has already been fought and won with the blood of Jesus. It is by the strength and might of the Lord Jesus Christ we pick up the weapons of routine, repetition, and tempo that will not only fight our battles and win the war for us.