Balancing Routine and Renewal

By Dean Collins

Do you like change, or do you prefer things the way they are today? Some of us are always looking for a new way to do things, and some of us prefer things just like they were yesterday. Throughout my career, I have been one who is always coming up with a new thing or a new way to solve a problem or advance the mission of the organization or business where I was employed. Yet personally, I really do better when my daily routines are not interrupted. 

I bet you have some daily routines, as well. I won’t bore you with mine, but I have several things I do every day, and often at about the same time each day. Some of those routines have to do with exercise, some with diet, some with family, and some with my spiritual disciplines. There is great value in establishing self-discipline in different areas of life, and especially in our spiritual disciplines that allow us to develop a deeper relationship with God, which then deepens our love for others.

Many times, I have written about and encouraged my readers to read Scripture regularly, to make it a daily routine. And recently, I have written more about prayer, which, of course, should also be a daily routine. Reading through Paul’s epistles recently, I found myself challenged to expand or change how I pray – both in the frequency of my prayers and in the way that I pray.

On the topic of frequency, I suspect most of us have fallen into the routine of saying a prayer before a meal and possibly having a prayer time in the morning or evening. There is certainly nothing wrong with that approach. God loves hearing from his children anytime and every time we pray. In 1 Thessalonians 5, we note that Paul instructs us to “pray without ceasing,” which suggests we would do well to find ways to stay in conversation with God throughout the day at more than just our routine times. Paul is describing an intimacy with God, where prayer is more than simply asking God for stuff. We pray with our words and our actions as we are led by the Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer. And in that same passage, Paul says that we are to both rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances. Rejoicing and giving thanks certainly qualify as prayer.

In Philippians 1:3-11, we find another prayer from Paul that gives us additional ways we might pray. Paul began by saying, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Paul offers thanks to God whenever he has a memory or when the church in Philippi comes to his mind. It might take some practice, but I think you and I could develop that approach. If I am walking, driving, or simply going about my daily activities, and you come to my mind, I don’t think it would be all that difficult to simply tell God thank you. I'll give it a try; maybe you can, as well.

Paul also mentioned, in that same verse, that when he remembers his brothers and sisters, he experiences joy as he offers thanksgiving for them. He is grateful that they are partners in advancing the gospel. Maybe, as we offer joyful prayers of gratitude for each other, we will also simultaneously prompt more openness to doing our part in sharing the gospel.

Philippians 1:6 has become a life verse for me: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Think about the power of this verse. Another way to say it might be that whatever God starts, he will also finish. When God created the universe, he said it was good. Every day of creation ended with that same declaration. And, of course, after breathing life into Adam and Eve, he again declared that it was good. And even after man’s sins separated us from God, our loving Father did not stop. He worked his good and perfect plan that sent Jesus to the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and our fellowship with God could be restored. Scripture after Scripture assures us that God will see his plans for all of creation to the end of being fully renewed and restored.  

The implications of this verse are profoundly encouraging. Things may not be going well at work, but God the God who began a good work in you will see it to completion. Someone you love may be struggling with cancer or some other illness, but remember, he who began a good work in you will see it to completion. God’s promises are always fulfilled. The world cannot stop God from completing the good work of redemption and renewal for you, for us, for all of God’s creation. So when you pray, remind God and yourself: I am sure of this, that he (You, God) that began a good work in ____ will bring it to completion, even at the day of Jesus Christ!

Go ahead and follow the routines that order your life. But then break up the routine and read some of the beautiful prayers of Paul, like the one in Philippians, and see if they might add comfort and power to your prayers.

Thank you, Father, for including many prayers in the pages of Scripture, so that we might learn from our spiritual ancestors how to pray. Forgive us for getting lazy with our prayers. We long to know you better and to see your kingdom expand on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you that you will not leave us incomplete but will finish your good work in us. In Jesus' name, amen.

 Your Time with God’s Word
Philippians 1:3-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Photo by Marissa Grootes on Unsplash
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