Practical Ways We Can Cultivate Holiness through Establishing Daily Rhythms

I've been thinking a lot about Jesus's unforced rhythms of grace. We hear Him speak of these rhythms in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

There are so many aspects of this Scripture that speak to my current season of life, but today we're going to unpack these unforced rhythms of grace in particular, in hopes that we can learn how to embrace this idea of living freely and lightly.

Confession: I LOVE watching Morning/Night Routines on YouTube. LOVE. THEM.

If you're unfamiliar, they're basically when Influencers walk you through their step-by-step morning or night routine; you see them wake up at a specific time, follow a set schedule, a perfectly thought-out routine, and they all look so happy and tranquil doing while doing it!!

This has never been me. I don't do well with routines/schedules; I enjoy flexibility and hate feeling bound or obligated to do something, even if it's something good for me.

If you tell me I HAVE to do something, chances are I'll break out into hives. I'm not sure why this is a part of my character, but it is. So, why do I love these videos?

Because there's something about daily rhythms that appeals to me on a spiritual level.

The idea that we can initiate practices that could potentially cultivate holy habits is deeply satisfying. (Now, are these Influencers actively engaging in holy habits? No! But I can see how their routines could lend themselves to me bettering my spiritual walk, and that's what excites me.)

I want to share four holy-habits that I'm trying to practice in my life, in hopes that maybe it will inspire you to create your own Holy Habit Routines, too!

1. Fasting -- Now, I was raised Southern Baptist which means fasting was not something that was taught very often. Fasting wasn't something we did; our people ate fried catfish and potato salad and peach cobblers on Sunday afternoons. Like, guys: we fasted from wearing pants with buckles or buttons, okay? But this is a spiritual discipline that my more liturgical brothers and sisters have not taken for granted or ignored, and I'm intrigued and challenged by it. To fast, traditionally, means to abstain from food; whenever you get hungry and your tummy growls, you turn your focus and your heart to heaven by praying something along the lines of, "Jesus, you are all I need to sustain me right now. You are enough, you are more than enough, and you are all I need." The goal is that through fasting, the space between heaven and earth gets even thinner, and we are able to hear and see Jesus more clearly because we are humbling ourselves, and expressing our true, one and only need which is for Him. Fasting is not fun; it's sanctifying work. If you've never tried it, I encourage you to go one day of fasting - from sunup to sundown - and allow yourself to feel your humanity and the needs/desires of our bodies, recognizing along the way that Jesus is our ultimate sustainer.

2. Light Candles - I've not been shy about my love for candles, but I haven't spent any time talking about the spiritual practice I've started to incorporate into my daily habit. Besides being comforting to see and pleasing to smell, lighting candles is also a way we can remember to pray for specific people, groups, or communities. Light a candle with a prayer intention. You're lighting a candle for someone, and that candle symbolizes the prayer your offering on their behalf. Candles can become physical reminders that we, as a collective, are all in the same boat, and we must remember to pray and intercede for each other.

3. Prayer Journal - Confession: prayer can be hard for me because I am so very easily distracted. (I'm sure this surprises absolutely no one!) But I've learned that when I write my prayers down in my journal, I am able to articulate my heart and emotions so much easier. I know journaling/writing in general isn't everyone's cup of tea, but consistently making myself stop during the day to write a love letter to Jesus is slowly changing the way I see my average, everyday routine. I'm learning that when I make room for Jesus, He creates space to woo me -- I start to see Him everywhere. The key here, as with the other two practices mentioned above, is intentionality. '

The goal for these disciplines is to intentionally set aside time for the Lord, giving Him permission to invade our every-day, and remind us that this is all good. He called His creation good at the very beginning, and it still is; even when we're stuck in our ruts, routines, and habits. Even when we forget to look for Him. Even in the midst of the pandemic, and Cultural dumpster fires that continue to rage on -- He's here in the goodness of it all calling us good, too. He still offers us the free and light life. When we focus on creating time and room for Him, He is there ready to exchange our exhaustion for joy, and our fears for hopes.

I hope you can find some practices that produce holiness and happiness in your life! Let's be creative ragamuffins who embrace new ways to walk with Jesus through our days.