4:213 – Back to our Routine?

#faithbites #faithjoutnry routine

Setting

As the calendar turns to August, talks change from summer vacation to back to school. August starts the return the the “normal” routine or whatever that is. For us, we went back to church, masked of course, for the first time in nearly 17 months. It’s was good but weird to be back. I won’t say “it’s normal” but kinda like the alternative 1985 feeling from Back to the Future Part II. Familiar but different. And it was nice to see people in 3D again.

Throughout the pandemic, many want to return to or go back to their normal. Is this change of season a chance to go back or is it a chance to see how God wants us to move forward? We get a chance to think about new opportunities, new friends, new outcomes, and a new chance to serve.

Today’s Questions: What does getting back to it look like to you? Are you going back to a familiar routine or finding a new normal for the next season?

Scripture

• Daniel 6:10 – When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
• Luke 4:16 – And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.
• Micah 6:8 (NIV)- He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
• 2 Timothy 1:7 – For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Reflection

First, we like what is familiar. There is safety and comfort in knowing what to expect. We see that both Daniel (Daniel 6:10) and Jesus (Luke 4:16) had routines. Their routine involved prayer, scripture, and God. He was always present no matter the struggles they went through. God never lets us down.

Second, as we look towards new routines, let’s first focus on what hasn’t changed. God! Micah (Micah 6:8) tells us that God has shown us how to love, act, and live. He wants us to have God with us and walk with God. No matter what changes in our lives, He should be first and present. We can’t forget that.

Finally, we should embrace the possibility of the future. Timothy (2 Timothy 1:7) tells us that God gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. We can and should look for new opportunities. There is always a way to get better. In worship this morning, our pastor, explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The old hierarchy had self-actualization at the top. Meaning that understanding ourselves was the highest we could get. It was revised and is more biblical, to add transcendence. This is when we look beyond ourselves to others and to God. Love God, Love others! God has this set up for us, we just need to follow.

As we close, remember, the old wasn’t necessarily bad nor is it something that we should race back to. God gave us a spirit to look for new routines to change, challenge, and share his love. While we may not be “getting back to it”, we may be getting to something much better.

Prayer

Lord God, this is a season of change for many. We want to get back to the normal routines of life: school, sports, work, play, and life. As we do that, help us to make the changes to our routine that you want. Help us to put you first, then others, then ourselves. Let us use this time to reflect, pray, and grow. We know that you know where we should be. We pray that you show us the path forward during this new season. In your name, we pray, Amen.