Routines

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:5-16

I've been thinking about planning lately. I make a lot of plans. I make daily plans, weekly plans, semester plans, yearly plans, life plans...you get the idea. I do this for myself and we do it as a family.

Sometimes I think about what this really means. I tell my clients that you often get what you expect. If you expect that you will fail, more than likely that is what you will get. It's a simple thought. I think some very well intentioned authors have tried to make this principle magical, but it's not.

What do I expect from my days? Today I'm in the office. Getting ready this morning was hectic. Making breakfast, packing lunches, brushing teeth...it can be a lot. Some days are bad. We are running. We get up late. I end up yelling. I wonder all day if I forgot to turn off the garage light. And then some days are pleasant. Sam wakes up on his own. Reagan has time to play in the floor. Breakfasts and lunches come together easily. What's the difference?

It's in the planning.

When I plan....when I put intention into my actions...my home is calmer. My life is more peaceful. My children are happier. I do not yell.

So...applying this thought...I wonder...

How do we need to be more intentional with our days?

At the beginning of each "season" we talk about what we want to do as a family. Right now we are talking holidays. What are we going to do? Where will we be? How will we spend our days?

So far...it's worked ok. But, we could do better.

What do we want to learn as a family? What do we want to work on?

Sunday Scott and I got to spend some time talking and we discussed evangelism. We talked about wanting to be more comfortable with sharing the gospel. We brainstormed ways to take what we were thinking about and turn it into action. For example, asking someone who is more comfortable with this type of ministry to go with us. We could learn by watching them. And we set a goal to do this in the spring.

Hmmm...that sounds weird. Learning to bolder in sharing the gospel is a good thing. My first thought is...let's do it now. How about tomorrow? Do you have time today?

But, then I hear the brakes go off in my head. We've already planned this semester. We are working on living out Titus 2. We've committed to that ministry. It's good, too. For everything there is a time.

Now things start to seem easier. But, the Holy Spirit can always move in ways that change our direction. Being sensitive to that voice and not the other voices in our heads that drive our own desires is difficult.

Routines are good. They help me construct my days. They help me accomplish goals. They can be good and they can be a hindrance to plans God has for me.

Sometimes we get it right...a lot of times we don't. But we keep going.

What works for you? How do you practice living intentionally within your family? With parenting? With growth? How do you create calm mornings and evenings? How do you get to church on time without forgetting to change the baby's diaper or brush the toddlers teeth? Heck, a few weeks ago we got to church and I'd forgotten Samuel's shoes. Baby steps...we need baby steps.