The Value of Routine
We are coming to the end of summer break. Vacations are ending, students are going back to school, and many routines that were put on hold for a time will soon be taken up again. We know from reading Ecclesiastes that there is a time and place for everything (Ecc. 3:1), and that includes breaking from our routines. Yet, as much as we enjoy vacations with our family and not getting up early for work every day, we still need routine. Routines ground us and give us a foundation to work from. They can also be surprisingly influential in our spiritual growth.
“If we don’t have good spiritual routines, now is the perfect time to establish some.”
Throughout the Bible, God instructs us to develop routines and tells us of the positive outcomes that come with those routines. In the Old Testament, routine was commanded in the Law: cleansings, sacrifices, and feasts had to be observed at the same time every year (see Lev. 1:14–17; Ex. 23:14–17). These routines were meant to bring about spiritual growth while also bringing glory to God. New routines were introduced in the New Testament with the coming of Christ into the world. The church was “devoted” to meeting together regularly, instructed to pray constantly, and Jesus himself instructed his followers to eat and drink in remembrance of his sacrifice (see Acts 2:42, 46; 1 Thess. 5:17; Lk. 22:19–20). Christians were told to make these things a regular part of their lives so they would be sanctified (1 Thess. 5:16–23), and that purpose holds true for us who are in Christ now. God gave us all these instructions for routines because they influence who we are.
On a physical level, when we have healthy routines, like brushing our teeth, drinking enough water, or getting adequate sleep, our bodies are more likely to be healthy. In the same vein, we should pay attention to our spiritual health and ask ourselves how our routines are affecting us spiritually. If we don’t have good spiritual routines, now is the perfect time to establish some. While you’re getting back to waking up at the same time every day, consider spending time in prayer every day after you wake up. Or while you’re reestablishing the discipline to go to bed at a regular time, take 15 minutes to read Scripture every night before you turn out the light. Maintaining those routines will help you come to know God more, and come to more closely resemble Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18).
If a routine you’d like to develop is meeting with a community to help you grow in Scripture, click the button below to find a Life Group.