Monday, March 14, 2022

Routine



Routine - a sequence of actions regularly followed; habitual or mechanical performance of an established procedure.

•Do I need one?
•If so, why?
•Is it important to have one?
•How do I establish one and what should it look like?

I'm not quite sure why I woke at 4 am this morning with this word on my mind.....but, as always, I'm curious to see what God is going to show me.

As I look at the questions perhaps I should attempt to answer each in two ways:

•What I think.
•What does God say?

So here goes.....

Do I need one?
What I think.

Definitely yes! I function best with a To-Do list , physical or mental. I check each thing off and as I do I feel a great sense of accomplishment. At the end of the day I can sit down with the peace of knowing I got something done.

What does God say?

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children."
Ephesians 5:1

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Mark 1:35

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20


In re-reading the definition of routine I acknowledge I am often trapped in the second part.... habitual and mechanical. Give me a list, check it off, DONE! Habitual...mechanical... focusing strictly on the outcome.

But look what God says. Follow MY example, get up early and pray. Since he had no place to call home, he had no need to get caught up in the busyness of maintaining one and this part... so powerful to me.....HE will give me rest...not ME, finding peace in my completed list.

Why do I need one?
What I think.

How do I establish a normal rhythm of life without one? How do I things get done? Won't life be chaotic without routine. Yes?

What does God say?

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
Proverbs 16:9


I can have my agenda and my check list but in the end God determines the steps I will take and often, very often, it looks nothing like my plans.

Is it important to have one?
What I think.

Right now, in my life there is no order. I have no routine. Life has no rhythm, no flow, no pattern, no tempo. I sink easily into discouragement, boredom and a feeling of worthlessness. What am I supposed to be doing? So yes, I say it's important.

What does God say?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28‭-‬30


I AM weary and I AM burdened. HE IS gentle and humble in heart. HE WILL give me rest. Rest, not in the sense of sleep but rest in my necessity to be productive or at least my definition of it. One commentary says it this way:

"Jesus directed His call to those who were burdened. He called those who sensed they must come to Him to relieve their need instead of living in self-sufficiency."

When I plot my own steps He senses my desire to relieve myself of my constant need of living in self-sufficiency. And if I heed His calling 👇

"And you will find rest for your souls: Jesus described His gift to His followers as rest for your soul. This unmatchable gift – both powerful and profound – should be considered the birthright of those who come to Jesus and are His followers. They should believe that something is wrong if they don’t experience rest for your souls."
(EWC)

•Unmatchable gift
•Powerful & profound
•Birthright
•Rest for my soul

Wow! That's a far cry from where I am on my own.

How do I establish one and what should it look like?
What I think.

Well....in my list making nature my list would look like this:

✓ Get up by 7 am (no later)
✓ Make tea
✓ Time with the Lord
✓ Do some writing if the Lord prompts
✓ Eat breakfast
✓ Serve in a ministry
✓ Eat dinner
✓ Collapse into bed happy, fulfilled, content and exhausted
✓ Repeat

What does God say?

Again....

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
Proverbs 16:9


"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11‭-‬13


He says, "Dianna, I already have the plans laid out. Seek ME with ALL of your heart and when you do you WILL find me." Sometimes the seeking IS the plan.

"Lord, you ALONE are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure."
Psalms 16:5


He IS all I need.

"And my God will meet ALL your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19


Solomon was right when said:

"So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me."
Ecclesiastes 2:17‭-‬18


He did a great deal in laying out his own path.....establishing his own patterns, rhythms and habits. But oh, what a valuable lesson he teaches.

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."
Ecclesiastes 12:13


What if....Jesus is saying sit at my feet? No routine. No certainties. No busy schedule. What if....he's calling me moment by moment to listen for my next move? What if I'm in a time of equipping for the next season? What if....for the rest of my life on this earth he wants me to "just" know Him better?

So what is the answer? To routine or lack of one? Boredom? A feeling of uselessness? What am I to do? What can I do? What is right to do? And this verse immediately came to mind:

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33


When I don't know what to do....seek Him. When life seems senseless....seek Him. When I feel worthless....seek Him. When things seems unfair....seek Him. When I feel discouraged....seek Him. When I don't understand what's happening or why....seek Him. When it seems as though nothing is happening....seek Him.

In times of great joy...praise Him. When he answers prayer....praise Him. When I feel his presence....praise Him. When I seek Him and find Him.....praise Him.

The fact that I serve an infinite God in a temporary world.... should have me continually THANKING Him.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21


I am not stranded in my lack of routine. Psalm 23 says I lack nothing. There's nothing happening outside of God's will for my life. I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.

God, help me to grasp the truth of seeking you above all else. It is your will for me in Christ Jesus. Your Word says it, I believe it. Convert my head knowledge to heart knowing and my heart knowing to the peace that passes all understanding. Amen.

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