School has started. The mornings are cooler. The hustle and scattered-ness of summer is giving way to routine again. Routines can be good things. For many of us, they are comfortable. It’s nice to know what to expect and that there are at least some things we can count on happening for our day. But routines can also tire us out. They can make life seem stale and empty…without anything new to experience or celebrate. They can sap our energy and zest for life.
I think that’s one of the reasons we need to be reading God’s Word to us every day. Some routine is good and helpful to organize our lives. But only routine doesn’t allow for growth. No new experiences means no new learning. God gives us so much diversity in His love letter to us. As we uncover the truth found in God’s Word we are exposing ourselves to newness…challenging our hearts, minds, and deeds to grow more closely to Jesus’.
Isaiah 55 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:8-11, ESV).
I hope you have a great routine started so that your life is organized in a way that allows your mind to focus on the more important things in life. And I hope that routine includes spending time with God in prayer and in His Word every day. He’s doing a new thing all around us every day. And His purposes will be accomplished, no doubt. It’s up to us to decide whether we will participate in it…or not.
Be a witness,
Nate