The Power of Repetition

The Power of Repetition

By Steve Backlund

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe” (Philippians 3:1).

7.4 - I read once that this is the average number of times individuals heard the gospel before surrendering and believing in Jesus. I cannot verify that this is entirely accurate, but it is clear most heard many times before believing. This is not only true for salvation but also for other truths. We usually don’t understand or embrace things when we first hear them. We need a repetition of it. 

Repetition is “the act of repeating, or doing, saying, or writing something again; repeated action, performance, production, or presentation.”

Repetition is important in other areas of life besides hearing the truth repeatedly. Some examples are:

1. Athletes and musicians practice repeatedly the same things so that they can perform with unconscious instinct rather than thinking what they should do.

2. Weight lifters do “reps” (short for repetition) to strengthen muscles. 

3. Vibrant Christians employ a repetition of habits to stay fruitful (e.g. weekly church attendance, daily Bible reading and prayer, regularly partaking of communion, declarations, tithing, etc.)

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). I love these examples of repetition, but I want to focus on speaking and hearing over and over the same things as a way to grow in the beliefs that will serve us well. One of the ways I have implemented this is through consistent faith declarations. My book, You’re Crazy If You Don’t Talk to Yourself, teaches the why and how about this. I am not waiting for someone else to tell me what I need to hear, I am telling myself. “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong’” (Joel 3:10). My goal is to make 100 faith declarations a day. Doing this has dramatically impacted my life. As an example, here are ten declarations to speak every day: 

1. My prayers are powerful and effective (2 Cor. 5:21; James 5:16b).

2. God richly supplies all my financial needs (Phil 4:19).

3. I am dead to sin and alive to obeying God (Romans 6:11).

4. I walk in ever-increasing health (Isaiah 53:3-5; Psalms 103:1-3).

5. I live under a supernatural protection (Psalm 91).

6. I prosper in all my relationships (Luke 2:52).

7. I consistently bring God encounters to other people (Mark 16:17,18).

8. Through Jesus I am 100% loved and worthy to receive all of God’s blessings (Galatians 3:1-5).

9. Each of my family members is wonderfully blessed and radically loves Jesus (Acts 16:30.31).

10. I uproariously laugh when I hear a lie from the devil (Psalms 2:2-4).

Finally, great speakers are not only speaking to themselves, but they are intentional speakers to those they lead. Here are powerful things leaders can do: 

1. Regularly share “the why” for what you do and believe - Parents and organizational leaders make a mistake if they assume telling people once (or infrequently) about the reasons behind the organization’s ways of doing things 
   

2. Repeat your story regularly - This is the major “why” for you. Joel Osteen is a master at this as he consistently shares his story of taking the lead role at his church, how they acquired a former basketball arena for their church, etc. This type of repetition helps people understand the “God story” for what they are a part of. 
   

3. Do not feel you need to have completely new teachings each time your minister or teach - Here are some ideas for this: 1) Review what has been shared in previous messages, 2) Develop creative ways for people to hear your main points again (using video screen, emailing notes, having them repeat these points, use conclusion to repeat them). 3) Have small groups discussing the messages. 
   

4. Develop key phrases that are central to your core values - Phrases like: 1) We owe people an encounter with the Lord, 2) Children do not have a junior Holy Spirit, 3) We love our city, and our faith and service makes it stronger. 4) We are who God says we are, not who the past says we are. As we determine what is most important (or rotate these through the year), we can have people repeat these so it is believed and activated at a higher level. 
   

5. Regularly tell people what you like about them and that you are honored to be in their lives -  Encouragement and appreciation builds up people’s sense of value, and it greatly increases the likelihood of healthy relationships. Being excited about seeing people will make you someone that people want to listen to. This “seeing” goes to another level when we specifically identify what we like about them (what makes them unique). Our words will help cancel out the self-limiting lies they are tempted to believe about themselves. 
   

6. Consistently tell those you influence who they are - We cannot consistently do what we don’t believe we are. When Bill Johnson went to Weaverville in the late 1970’s, one of his main goals as their pastor was to convince them that they were significant (and it worked).

There is great power in repetition, especially concerning saying and hearing the truths that will make us free. “If you abide in my word, you are My disciples indeed; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). Abiding infers we keep thinking and meditating on it. Let’s be someone who helps people abide in Jesus’ words by giving voice to them over and over. We, and those who hear us, will be glad we did.