Are you a creature of habit?
Confession: I use the same coffee mug for my morning brew (it’s 12 years old — the mug, not the coffee), I eat four egg whites with a bowl of grits by 6:30, and I use purple pens only when writing poetry. Weird, I know. I also have the propensity for sticking with the same routine when it comes to spending time with my Maker.
The good thing about habits is that they provide predictability.
The bad thing about habits is that they provide predictability.
On one hand certainty brings stability, which inherently leads to comfort. We know what to expect and when to expect it. (I feel comforted already.)
On the other, some things can become so predictable, that its uniqueness wanders and wanes—and this can include our time with God if we’re brutally honest with ourselves. (My comfort level is quickly dwindling.)
Time with God can look different for everyone, as well it should. As for me, I’ve done the same thing for many years. I journal, read scripture, pray aloud, and study the Word. In recent years, however, I’ve sensed a need to kick predictability to the proverbial curb by trying fresh ways to connect with my heavenly Father, such as:
- Sitting on the back deck, soaking up holy silence and allowing it to usher me into God’s presence.
- While driving in the countryside, I thank God for even the slightest hint of His creative handiwork. That is, unless I spot a snake, whereby I thank God for thick tires so as to flatten it.
- Crank up the praise music and make a joyful noise, aka, sing to Him.
- Doodle or draw in a Barnes & Noble steno book (thank you, Marcia Moston, for this idea!)
New Year’s Day is a prime time for reviewing and refreshing habits, but I say, why wait three more months to make changes that will draw us nearer to the Lord today?
Varying our time with God breathes life into the routine and renews an appreciation for the fact that He didn’t create you or me to become robots, but rather, His children.
And children are rarely predictable.
called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world
does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
How about you? Have you tried something new during your quiet time? Please share in the comment section!
