In addition to being a revival speaker, I work in Information Technology. One of my favorite tools used in IT is what is known as a baseline. A baseline is a set of data that tells a company what their environment usually looks like. It gives IT a measure by which to know when things are running like they should be, and when they aren’t.
The baseline is established by measuring and recording various data points while systems are running properly. These measurements are averaged and assembled into a summary of the regular operating condition of the environment. This gives IT an overview of how their systems ‘should’ look when everything is normal.
A baseline is very helpful because it provides a chance to identify problems that might otherwise get missed or ignored. And, it allows for dealing with issues early, proactively, before the problem becomes a big issue.
In the Christian life it is important to do the same thing. Ask yourself what your walk with the Lord looks like ‘on average’, measuring it in some meaningful way. Don’t feel like you have to judge or praise yourself. A baseline isn’t meant to be a record of accomplishments or failures. It is meant to show how things usually are.
Periodically investigate your prayer life. Ask yourself how your Bible reading is going. See what your regularity is for daily devotions. More important, analyze the effectiveness of these things, and determine if growth is occurring. Again, don’t worry about perfection here. A baseline isn’t meant to make you fixate on performance.
Instead, a baseline seeks to reveal flaws before they become unmanageable. It helps when you are overwhelmed, but don’t know why. It provides an answer when you are asking yourself ‘what happened?’ questions. It can encourage you, motivate you, and make you more informed about your spiritual life.