Yesterday, my morning routine got all messed up. I usually get up, have breakfast, read the paper, have my quiet time, head to the gym or out for a run and then on to the office. But yesterday I had an early breakfast meeting so I put some things in reverse order: I exercised, had coffee, read the paper took a shower and then out the door for a breakfast meeting. No big deal, however, I left something out; my morning quiet time didn’t make the list. I realized the oversight as I was headed out the door. I had the meeting which was very productive and then off to the office, still no quiet time. I got busy in the daily routine and no quiet time. Things seemed to be going fine, but it just wasn’t the same. I had missed something, I was lacking something. Finally after dinner Istopped, found a quiet place and spent some time reading and meditating on God’s word. My reading for the day took me to Deuteronomy chapters 16-20. God is giving final instructions to Israel as they are about to enter the ‘promised land.’ The dialog from God in chapter 17 includes ‘guidelines for a king:’ who to choose, how to choose, how he should live, how he should act and how he should treasure and digest God’s word.
“…, he must copy these laws on a scroll for himself…He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of the law. This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way."(Deuteronomy 17: 18-20a)
Nothing like getting hit up side the head by God’s word. Okay, there is nothing wrong with changing my morning routine; however, there is something wrong by leaving God’s Word out of my life. What I missed by putting God’s Word at the end of the day was that my day did not get started focusing on the right things. I can’t say that my routine will not change again in the future, but next time I will do my best to get the day started in God’s Word.