No matter what we do in life, we will always find ourselves involved in some routines. It is not that routines are bad; the question is, are we engaging ourselves in the right ones?
I remember a time when I used to go to a restaurant daily to use their Wi-Fi. I became so familiar with that place that I can almost predict what would happen there and the faces that I will see each day of the week. I have also realized how much our lives are built upon routines. Whether you are a pastor or a regular member of a church, a teacher or student, an employer or an employee, a parent or a child, each day you wake up, you tend to do almost the same things. If you take an inventory of your daily life, you’ll see that it is built on routines. And there is nothing wrong with routines. Nonetheless, you have to ensure that you are engaged in the right ones.
We live in a fast-paced world, and it’s easy to spend our quality time doing the wrong things. What we hear, think, and see can easily influence us and lead us to engage in unprofitable activities. Since time is so precious and we cannot redeem the time we’ve spent, we have to live intentionally and ensure that our routines count.
What does that mean?
Just as we brush our teeth to keep them healthy, there are other things in life we should do with a goal in mind. We are so good at focusing on things that serve us no purpose. For example, if part of your routine is to watch a movie every Saturday. While there is nothing wrong with that, let it be a movie that teaches you something, or a lesson that you can learn and apply in your life.
I remember when I used to watch lots of soap operas. They kept me busy, and believe it or not, they were part of my routines. I knew exactly when one would end and when the next one would start. And after spending 4 to 6 hours watching them, I learned nothing. The whole time, I thought I was doing the right thing because I viewed them as a way to keep myself out of trouble. Nonetheless, I didn’t realize that in the attempt to do what is right, I was wasting my precious time, and I didn’t ever realize it. It is the same thing when reading a book; if the book I read is all about romance and how Suzie met Paul and how they fell in love again after they broke up. How does that serve me in my own life? Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Suzie and Paul, and I celebrate their win. But honestly, watching or reading about Suzie and Paul all day long will get me nowhere. Also, the same goes for unnecessary phone conversations that last 3-4 hours talking about people’s business. In what way does that help me? I think here is a good time for us to be selfish. It is essential to be involved in things that force us to grow. That doesn’t mean we cannot have fun in life, but it means that we still need to be selective even when we are having fun. I mean, there are things we already know that are detrimental, so there is no need to negotiate them or include them in our schedule. The truth is, we have to grow in every area of our lives, not just one area. And when I consider the Bible, for example, the more I read it, the more I realize how special and strategic it is. God was not bored when He inspired the biblical authors to write the book; that’s why it will always be the most recommended book. It serves as a blueprint for every area of our lives. That doesn’t mean we can’t use other spiritual books to expand our knowledge. Nonetheless, God’s Word is more important and more powerful than any other book. We live in times when we must be selfish about what comes through our avenues. We must guard ourselves against what affects our eyes and ears, and ungodly words that come out of our mouths. These avenues are connected to our hearts and minds. Scripture says that we must be discerning, vigilant, and practicing self-control. (1 Peter 5:8; 1 Peter 4:7)
Some things may be considered good habits, but if they are not profitable, then they are a waste of our precious time.
There is nothing wrong with having a routine where your Monday looks like Tuesday and Wednesday like Thursday. But by the end of the week, when you take inventory, that routine ought to be able to push you forward, not backward or stagnant. Please allow me to explain this further. For some, if they cannot get everything on their to-do list done by the end of the following week, then they feel as if something is wrong with them because they are not making progress. And their to-do list includes buying fancy shoes, getting their nails done, visiting their besties, etc., that is not the type of growth I’m talking about. I’m talking about spiritual growth. The Bible says in 3 John 1:2 that we can prosper in all things and be in health just as our souls prosper. Therefore, we can say that if we prosper in the right things, then we can prosper in all other aspects of our lives and be in good health. Thus, engaging in the right routines to help us become spiritually mature is imperative. They don’t have to be spooky things. I think the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is a great place to start. Things like exercising more kindness toward others, being slow to anger at work or elsewhere, being more patient this week than last week, smiling at someone on your way to the parking lot, reading one or two verses each day, and turning off the TV to go to bed early. It doesn’t have to be something unattainable. As I mentioned before, since our lives are built on routines, we can still make them purposeful. Also, remember that every great thing requires a routine. There is nothing you do in life that is great that doesn’t require you to build a schedule to keep up with it. If going to the gym works for you, you won’t just go once; you’ll stick to it. If going to bed early makes you feel more refreshed in the morning, then you will strive to go to bed at the same time every night. Hence, they become part of your routines because they are beneficial to you. The same is true for your spiritual health. When you have a real encounter with the Lord through prayer and see how much you have benefited from that one encounter, you will find a way to add Him to your routines and put Him in His proper place on your list. You will put Him first on the list because you have tasted and seen that He is good (Psalm 34:8).
I am not saying this to you as if I have always known what to do, but over the years, I have learned, and I am still learning to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will. And believe me when I say that I used to be the type of person who didn’t believe in prayer and couldn’t understand its purpose in the first place. I mean, what’s the point of doing something when nothing seems to change? Two minutes in prayer used to feel like hell on earth until God opened my eyes, and that’s when He allowed me to understand and witness the importance of prayer and how every single prayer and every tear count before God. It is like any other routine, and you will see results over time. Nonetheless, you must start the routine to see results. Just like you don’t expect to see immediate results after your first day at the gym, the same is true for your spiritual routine. Remember, you are building a relationship with God; everything won’t happen overnight. As for me, once I realized that outside of God, I can’t even breathe, I figured there is no other option but to put Him first in my life. How can I leave my Oxygen behind? I can’t even make it past my bed without Him, let alone accomplish any other routines for the day.
SCRIPTURES
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”1 Corinthians 6: 19
“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” Psalm 5:3
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