The Interwebs are alive with tons of articles about the power of routines and habits. I think that’s for two reasons – well, there’s probably way more than two reasons, but two is a good number to start with. First, because they work. Doing the same things every day builds a lot of momentum. Second, it makes for great blog fodder. There’s even an entire website devoted solely to morning routines: My Morning Routine. It’s a fascinating website. They even have a book. There are lots of things that you can put into a routine that will help you do life better: ¹exercise, eating right, taking a shower once in a while.

I want to share with you some specific routines that will help you stay connected and aligned with the Kingdom of God.

If you want to stay aligned with the Kingdom of God you need to spend time with him in conversation. That’s how relationship is built, and relationship is the most important thing. God tends to talk to us through scripture and prayer. So these routines are focused on doing those things on a regular basis, as in several times a day. They aren’t super long, deep conversations – although sometimes that’ll happen – they are like shooting a text to your friend seeing how their day is going. Except in reverse, because you’re really letting God text you to see how your day is going. Man, that’s a terrible example. Don’t text God. Anyway…

Morning

Admiral William McRaven shared this truth in his 2014 University of Texas at Austin commencement speech:

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day.”

He’s absolutely right. And when it comes to following Jesus and staying aligned with the Kingdom, the equivalent to making your bed every morning is spending time with God. Just like with making a bed, it doesn’t have to take long. I already shared with you what my basic morning routine looks like. Do something like that.

Noon

Once lunch rolls around, you’ve probably lost track of what it was that you had talked about with God in the morning. I know I do. So, we need check in with him again – somewhere between meetings or classes or lunch or whatever. Fortunately, there’s a great format for this called the Daily Examen. It goes like this, and you can run through it in a couple of minutes:

• Thank Jesus for what you have received.
• Think about how your day is going – your thoughts, words and actions. Where have you moved toward or away from Jesus?
• Thank Jesus for how he’s helped you stay in alignment with him.
• Ask for forgiveness for how you’ve drifted out of alignment with him.
• Ask Jesus for help to stay in alignment with his way of doing things.
  We all mess up. Me, continually. But this isn’t a judgment session. This is an examination session – just to see where you’re at and correct course. It’s a mid-day realignment.

Night

I don’t know about you, but I feel pretty rushed during the day as I’m running from one thing to another. But my evenings are usually a bit more relaxed. So I have a little more time to reconnect with God. You probably do too. So, as we hit the sack it’s a good time to unpack the day with him. There are some similarities here with the noon Daily Examen thing, but this is a bit expanded. It goes like this:

• Ask Jesus to join you in this conversation.
• Review what happened during the day.
• Ask Jesus where your emotions have been.
• Ask Jesus where he was involved with you.
• Ask Jesus where you moved towards or away from alignment with his way of doing things.
• Thank Jesus for how he helped you stay aligned with him.
• Ask Jesus for forgiveness in getting out of alignment with him.
• Thank him for spending some time with you.

These routines are NOT a checklist – as though if you do them you’re good, and if you don’t you’re bad. They’re just tools to help you stay aligned. If you miss them, don’t beat yourself up. I miss them all the time. I just pick it up again the next day. And, not super surprising, my days go better if I manage to follow the routine.

Photo by Cesar Carlevarino Aragon on Unsplash