wice a year our family daily routine shifts drastically. In May and then again in August. It has everything to do with the fact our lives revolve around an academic schedule. Even though we have faced this shift and return for years now, we still experience a major adjustment.
When your daily routine has shifted into a new routine, how do you maintain your relationship with God?
- Make Practicing Pursuit a Priority Much like maintaining a relationship with your spouse or best friend, you need to sow into the relationship. When I don’t get that quiet time in the early morning all to myself, it is easy to get sidetracked and skip my Scripture reading. When this happens too many days in a row, I start to feel disconnected and notice my heart searching for time alone to read and to pray. Quiet time can happen anywhere, any time, but I need to prioritize it.
- Shifting Time, Not Deleting Practices Throughout the day, I tend to listen to music reflecting my core values and infused with lyrics reciting Scripture. If I suddenly don’t or can’t access this music, I find I miss it. While my standard routine is to listen while exercising alone, when the schedule changes and I suddenly have more people working out with me, I tend not to listen to that music. Finding another time and activity where I can don the ear buds can prove not only therapeutic, but also assist me in maintaining a sense of needed praise and focus on God..
- Gift Yourself Grace With routine changes, things can feel haywire. It will take time (about three weeks according to experts) to feel back in a routine once more. In the meantime, try different ways of fitting things in, and moving the schedule around to determine the best time placement. Keep in mind Jesus had a very full schedule with travel and ministry, and he rarely had the same day twice. But notice what He often did at the end of a day, “He would withdraw to a quiet place and spend time with God.” (Matthew 14:13 and Luke 5:16-26) Jesus knew it was not the time or place He went to talk with God, it was the conversation itself that kept Him grounded and connected with the Father.
If you are changing your daily schedule soon, know that God doesn’t expect perfection, Instead He is just waiting patiently to spend time with His children. And He will gladly give you and me time to figure out how life works even in the midst of change. All we need to do is ask Him for help and He will supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19) Will you join me in asking Him for just that?
Prayer: Dear Lord, You know. You see the changes I am beginning or anticipating soon. I don’t want to lose time with You or the relationship with You. Show me how to develop a routine that helps me draw even closer to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.