Rut or Routine?

Every morning starts the same way at my house: I shuffle into the kitchen, turn on the coffee pot, open the blinds, and switch on the lamps. It’s my own little sunrise ritual — artificial light first, caffeine second, and Jesus somewhere in the middle of it all.

Coffee time comes next, of course. Then breakfast. Then prayer. Then the computer. Then, if the weather is kind, I head outside for a breath of fresh air and a little porch‑sitting therapy. After that, more coffee — because one cup is for waking up, and the second cup is for becoming a pleasant human being.

Lunch rolls around, followed by what I like to call “pleasure time,” which is really just a fancy way of saying whatever makes me smile. A nap usually sneaks its way in there too. Supper comes later, then Bible time, and finally either television or reading before bed.

And woven through every bit of it — from the first lamp switch to the last page turned — is my ongoing conversation with God. Not formal, not fancy. Just steady. Like breathing. Like walking with a friend who never leaves your side.

Some days I look at this list and think, Well, this is a rut if I’ve ever seen one. Other days I look at the very same list and think, What a comforting routine. Honestly, it depends on my mood. Isn’t that the truth?

But here’s what I’m learning: a rut drains you, but a routine sustains you. A rut feels like being stuck; a routine feels like being held. And when God is in the middle of it — even the ordinary parts — the whole day becomes a quiet kind of holy.

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Whether it’s a rut or a routine, I’m grateful for the simple rhythm of my days… and for the One who walks with me through every single one. 

❤

Until Next Time