Daily routines. We all have them. Coffee, before I even open my eyes. Take a shower. Brush my teeth. Make sure my kids do the same. My mornings are so scripted you could almost set your clock by them. (Right down to the part where I’m running around proclaiming that I’m late…again.)
I am so thankful that God has placed a hunger in my heart for his Word. Because of this, it’s a rare morning that I don’t sit on my couch and do my “devotions”.
The challenging part for me is when I finish my devotions and head out into a world full of struggles and temptations. How can I “resolve” to be different? (Like Daniel did – Daniel 1:8). How can I stand firm (1 Peter 5:8-9) and “refuse to let the world corrupt me”? (James 1:27)
This is a daily challenge for me (more accurately…a moment by moment challenge). I need to do what I can to keep God’s word close at hand. Constant reminders. Things like a perpetual calendar with a daily verse; Christian music playing in the background; a mid-day prayer or moment in the Word. For each of us, staying connected will look different – the important thing is to make a conscience effort to do it.
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But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22-25 NLT)
A “brief glance” into God’s word is not enough to ensure that we don’t forget it when we walk away. We must be intentional about allowing the Word of God to soak into our souls.