Why Are Routines So Important?

Over the last two years I haven’t done as much traveling as I would have liked. I use to travel quite a bit, so last week while I was away for four days from my home and the office I was reminded what traveling felt like. Getting away occasionally from your surroundings is good as it enables you to refresh from the things that consume your life. However, last week I also discovered that getting out of your routine can be very dangerous as well.

At the beginning of the year I set myself a goal to lose 20 pounds in weight this year. Well, to my surprise I have already lost 15 pounds. This has been because of a consistent routine of working out a little everyday and watching what I eat. However, it only took four days to break my routine and I felt the effects. Until last night it had been a whole week since I had worked out, and I felt it. I had put some weight back on and felt very tired. I could tell that my body that I was out of routine.

I’ve realized that routines are an important part of our lives. I am not someone who likes too much routine as I get bored. However, when we get out of important routines we lose focus. I got out of the routine of working out, and what happened? I stopped thinking about what I was going to eat! My focus of taking care of my body was lost.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about Godliness. He said that exercise of the body is a good thing and you will profit a little from it. However, more than exercise, it is Godliness that will benefit you in everything that you do. Exercise will benefit your body, but Godliness will benefit your soul, mind and spirit.

I have discovered that unless I keep in a routine I cannot measure things correctly. Unless I exercise daily and weigh myself regularly I cannot measure whether my body is strong or too weak, overweight or normal. In the same way we need to get into a routine of Godliness and find ways to measure  it; if our soul, mind and spirit is strong or too weak, whether it is alive or dying!

The thing about exercise is that you can’t do it occasionally and think you will get good results from it. This is the same with Godliness. I know when I am not feeling very Godly! These are the times I am out of routine and have neglected the things I do to stay “Godly”.

One of the ways I try to remain “Godly” is to remain my body it does not control me, but I control it. This is why I try to keep daily and weekly routines within my prayer life, personal bible study and also reading of books. These are not easy things to do, neither will I lie and say I do them everyday, but I have discovered how important it is and soon realize after a day or two when I am out of routine.

If you are looking for ways live in Godliness then get hold of Bill Hull’s book, ‘Choose The Life. It really is a good book that looks at spiritual disciplines and practical ways to live out a life that is “Godly”.

What are some of the ways you try to live a life of Godliness? What routines do you have that check you in check? Leave a comment and let me know!’