How did your first week of having a routine go? If you are anything like me, yours didn’t quite live up to your expectations. Your routine flunked. It had giant holes. You know what I’m talking about. Holes you can’t ignore. Like when you buy a brand-new pair of nylons and stick your thumb straight through as your wiggle them over your hips. That is NOT a small run or hiccup, and no amount of clear nail polish is gonna fix that hole! What do we do now? Give up, right? NO! You make the needed adjustments so that your routine works for you and not against you and then you stick to that routine like cat hair sticks to your favorite suit jacket. You know, the one that makes you feel super classy until you look down and realize your jacket could actually be the lint trap in your dryer. Seriously, how does that happen? Anyways, invest in a lint roller and move on. Like all good things, a routine takes effort. Stick to it. You won’t regret it. Make sure Jesus is the foundation of that routine and don’t think for a second any other foundation is going to work. Cuz it won’t.
Read: 1 Corinthians 15:58
Consider: When I think of the word “steadfastness,” I think of 2 Timothy 4:7 which says, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Being dependable and faithful are two characteristics of one who is steadfast. A person who is steadfast does not give up even when the going gets tough! Sticking to a routine can be challenging! However, I know that it will be something that helps me to be a better wife, mom, friend, and leader. I know we are all busy with many different responsibilities that stretch and pull us in all different directions. For example, I was overwhelmed this past weekend with everything that I needed to do that I even had a hard time sleeping! You know what I mean? Those nights when you lay your head down and close your eyes and then every single thing you didn’t accomplish or forgot to do creates a symphony in your head made up of 6th grade clarinet and saxophone players, including all the high-pitched squeaks, poor timing, and terrible knock-knock jokes. A verse from my devotions popped out at me on Sunday night, Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Seriously how cool is our God that He would care to remind me that He is peace, to trust Him, and that He knows and cares about everything that needs to get done? My words of encouragement to you this week would be to do your best and leave the rest to God. Don’t let your to-do list distract you from what is truly important and don’t let the stress of life steal your joy in learning new things! Isaiah 40:31 tells us, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” So here we go! Stick to your routine! We can do this! I’m cheering each of you on!
To-Do: Write out/Comment what is the hardest part of sticking to a routine? How can you turn this stumbling block into a stepping stone?
