THE MIRACLES HIDDEN IN ROUTINE
“….I
PRESS toward the mark for the
prize of the
HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 3:14 KJV).
*
We have learned that a
routine is a habitual, fixed behavior that is unvarying and usually repeated on
a daily basis. Routines are rehearsed, typical, and performed so often they
become dull, boring, and commonplace. A
routine is basically a personal set of instructions that direct daily and
habitual behaviors.
Routine also allows skills, abilities, and
self-discipline to develop in a safe, fairly stationary, and predictable place.
Routine brings up words like dull, dismal, monotonous, boring, and repetitive.
Routine can be inflexible, unexciting, constraining, unimaginable, obligatory,
limiting, and often without spontaneity.
Some routines are on a schedule. A
schedule helps keep routines on track and ensure certain tasks or procedures
are done every single day. Without a schedule some routine tasks may never get
done and could cause things to get chaotic.
Schedules give routine a little structure
and help them run a lot smoother. When routine runs smooth life can appear more
dependable or peaceful.
Scheduled routines keep life somewhat
under control: You know what specific tasks need to be done every day. You can
relax once you know essential tasks are complete.
For instance, make the bed, brush your
teeth, take a shower, get dressed, fix breakfast, fix lunches, take kids to
school, get to work on time, go to the gym, stop at the grocery store, or take little Billy to soccer practice.
You can personally choose which task must
be completed on any particular day and which ones can be put off for another
day. You can procrastinate or you can totally redo the schedule of routine at
your leisure.
Routine is practiced behaviors that you do
so often; they become fixed, need little concentration, you could almost do them blindfolded, they are considered normal to you,
and they are usually not very exciting.
Most of your life consists of routine
days. “…One person esteems one DAY above another; another esteems EVERY DAY alike. Let each be fully convinced in
his own mind.…” (ROMANS 14:5 KJV). “…This
is the DAY which the
LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it...” (PSALMS 118:24 KJV).
Routine is NOT usually exciting, yet
routine is where every ongoing habit, ritual, or pattern of behavior started
for you. Routine is where you learned to walk, talk, read, eat, dress, tie your
shoes, brush your teeth, take a bath or shower, educate yourself, go to church,
acquire manners, respect, discipline, or build relationships.
After doing these routine behaviors for so
long they become part of your regular lifestyle. Routine behaviors turn into
habits. Habits are hard to break, especially if you’ve done them for a long
time or most of your life.
Routine can also become a miracle maker for all
kinds of behavior. Routine can miraculously create new habits while destroying
old ones. Routine can also miraculously develop and improve good habits or develop
and increase bad habits.
Routine days that include the miraculous, therefore, are a process
with a purpose. For instance, it takes years of routine days of growing up
before becoming an adult. It takes years
of routine days of educational classes before getting a diploma or a degree. It
takes several weeks of routine days of exercising before getting fit. It takes
nine months of routine days of waiting before the baby arrives.
When routine days are used to process the
various purposes in life, habits are developed. If it takes years of routine
days of educational classes before getting a diploma or a degree what other new
habits can you develop? You could develop study habits, listening habits,
learning habits, or discipline habits.
A desired lifestyle can evolve from
routine days and eventually, be maintained with little effort, focus, or mental
strain.
When God incorporates spiritual training,
practice, shaping, conditioning, and molding into your daily routine new
behavioral habits are developed and a Christlike lifestyle can emerge.
God allows LONG stretches of TIME to
practice new behaviors in the daily routines of life in order to develop
Christlike habits.
When routine days are used to PROCESS
God’s PURPOSE in your life, spiritual habits are developed. “…GROW to maturity…”
(2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). “…until Christ be formed in you…”
(Galatians 4:19 KJV).
It takes days, weeks, months, or years of
routine days infused with spiritual training, practice, shaping, conditioning,
and molding before getting you matured for your CALLING in life. “…Let
PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and
complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV).
The calling on your
life is a HIGH Calling. “…..and
these whom He predestined, He also CALLED…” (Romans 8:30 NASB). It
is a CALLING from God himself. “…The God of all grace, who HATH CALLED US …” (1 Peter 5:10 KJV). It is a heavenly CALLING. “…HE CALLED HIS OWN SHEEP BY NAME…”
(Jude 10:3 KJV).
Jesus knew what his
CALLING was. “….the
Son of Man came
not to be served but TO SERVE OTHERS and TO GIVE HIS LIFE as a ransom for many"
(Matthew 20:28).
YOU are also CALLED. “….among
whom you also are THE CALLED of Jesus
Christ. “ (Romans 1:6 NASB). “….Whereunto HE CALLED YOU by our gospel…” (2 Thessalonians
2:14 KJV).
The PURPOSE of PROCESS
is about the CALLING. “…I don’t mean to
say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection (maturity). But I PRESS ON to possess that PERFECTION (maturity) for which
Christ Jesus first POSSESSED me. No, dear brothers and
sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the
past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON to reach
the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually MATURE agree on these things.
If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to THE PROGRESS we have already made….”
(Philippians 3:12-16 NLT).
“…Let PATIENCE have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….” (James
1:2-4 KJV).
Believers
were sent here by God to accomplish HIS will and HIS purpose and NOT their own
human purposes. “…The Lord has made everything for his Own PURPOSES…”
(Proverbs 16:4 NASB). “….YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN …” (1
Corinthians 6:19 KJV). “…We
are HIS
WORKMANSHIP…” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV). “…all things were created by him, and FOR HIM…” (Colossians 1:16 KJV"…You did
not choose me but I CHOSE YOU, and APPOINTED YOU that you should go and bear fruit…” (John
15:16 ASV). “….I know the plans that I HAVE FOR YOU,’ declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah
29:11 nasb). Jesus said, “…not My will, but Yours be done…"
(Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
All
the things you enjoy such as the blessings of family, marriage, children, jobs,
prosperity, material blessings, successes, or renown are ONLY benefits of your
purpose here on earth. “…And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and TO DO all his commandments …ALL THESE BLESSING
SHALL COME ON THEE, and overtake thee…”
(Deuteronomy 28:1-2 KJV).
When there is a CALLING
on your life, ROUTINE days become a PROCESS with a PURPOSE. “…And in the PROCESS of time IT CAME TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
It is not pockets of
excitement here and there that are the miracles of life. It is the things you think are dull, boring,
monotonous, dismal and unexciting that are the true MIRACLES. Jesus
said, “…The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to PREACH the gospel to the poor; he
hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to PREACH deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To PREACH the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John
4:16-21 KJV). “…Jesus said to the
crowd, “…I was there teaching EVERY DAY…”
(Matthew 26:55 NLT). So was Jesus’ disciples. “…And EVERY DAY, in the Temple and from house to house, they
continued to TEACH
AND PREACH this message: “Jesus is the Messiah….” (Acts 5:42
NLT).
Most people take for
granted or become complacent and blind to MIRACLES they experience every single
day. “I will lead the BLIND by ways
they have not known, along “unfamiliar”
paths I will guide them; I will turn
the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them”
(Isaiah 42:16 NIV).
I mentioned earlier how
I had to be dependent and at the mercy of others. What I took for granted is
the blessing and miracle of being routinely independent; doing things I like to
do, doing things when I want to do them, how I want to do them, and however I
want to do them.
Becoming complacent is
one of the BIGGEST enemies for taking routine miracles for granted or being
blind to them.
Complacency is when you
have a calm, peaceful satisfaction with yourself, your own abilities, your own
merits, your own advantages, or your own situation to the degree it prevents
you from improving or further developing yourself.
Routine days can also develop a misguided sense
of self-satisfaction where an individual becomes so smug with their own selves
they are not aware of or are uninformed of any danger or deficiencies in their
lifestyle or habits.
Complacency leaves no
room for further growth or development. The mind has become fixed on “I am fine just as I am.” It is an attitude
of self-righteousness, or haughtiness, or extreme self-satisfaction.
Remember the haughtiness
of King Nebuchadnezzar. “I,
Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made
me afraid. So I commanded that all the wise men of
Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me, but they could not
interpret it for me. Finally, Daniel came into my
presence and I told him the dream….” (Daniel
4 NLT).
King Nebuchadnezzar was
advised on what to do to improve himself.
“Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right,
and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your
prosperity will continue.” (Daniel 4 NLT).
King Nebuchadnezzar was
too smug and self-satisfied to change his habits. “…Twelve months later,
as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the
great Babylon “I” have built as the royal
residence, by “my” mighty power and for the
glory of “my” majesty?”
Even
as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is
decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from
you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild
animals; you will eat grass like the ox.
Seven
times (years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is
sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
He
was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched
with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and
his nails like the claws of a bird…” (Daniel
4 NLT).
Suddenly, King Nebuchadnezzar’s
ENTIRE, daily routine drastically changed. He needed to learned new habits,
especially the habit of humility. “…At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward
heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then
I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His
dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom
endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he
pleases with
the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say
to him: “What have you done?”
At
the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned
to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I
was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
Now I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything
he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble…” (Daniel
4 NIV).
King Nebuchadnezzar’s seven
year PROCESS had a PURPOSE. “…Seven times
(years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is
sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes… Now I,
Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are
just. And those who walk in pride he is
able to humble…” (Daniel 4 NIV).
The MIRACLE of HUMILITY
came out of the NEW ROUTINE PROCESS in which he found himself living. The PROCESS took seven years
of routine days where he “…
was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched
with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and
his nails like the claws of a bird...” BEFORE
he became HUMBLED (Daniel 4 NLT).
God was NOT looking at
King Nebuchadnezzar’s family, friends, renown, kingdom, wealth, prosperity,
success, status, or his palace. God was looking at his HEART. “...God sees
not as man sees, for man looks at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7
NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
Before I became dependent on others and at
their mercy I thought I was a humble person, but you can NEVER get
self-satisfied. “…we are [NOT]…
sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency
is of God…” (2 Corinthians
3:5 KJV). “…whatever I am now,
it is all because God poured out his special favor on me…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT).
There is ALWAYS room for improvement from
the congregant to the highest of CLERGY leaders. “….Those
who walk in pride he is ABLE to humble…” (Daniel 4 NIV). “…whatever
I am now, it is all because [of]God …” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT).
When you get smug, or
self-righteous, or self-satisfied as a result of routine days, God knows how to
get your ATTENTION. “…he GETS THEIR
ATTENTION through adversity…” (Job 36:15 NLT).
. “…If they
are bound in chains and
CAUGHT UP in a web of trouble, HE SHOWS THEM THE REASON. HE SHOWS THEM THEIR SINS OF PRIDE. HE GETS THEIR
ATTENTION AND COMMANDS THAT THEY TURN FROM EVIL…”
(Job 36:6-10 NLT).
Too often we get
distracted by the benefits. King Nebuchadnezzar’s accomplishments were ONLY a
benefit, but NOT his CALLING. His CALLING required him to have the HEART of
HUMILITY. “…the KING was walking on the roof of the
royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon “I” have built as the royal residence, by “my” mighty power and for the glory of “my” majesty?” (Daniel 4 NLT). “…he GETS THEIR ATTENTION through adversity…”
(Job 36:15 NLT). “….Those who walk in pride he is ABLE to humble…” (Daniel 4 NIV). “…whatever I am now, it is all because God poured
out his special favor on me…”
(1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT).
The PURPOSE of PROCESS
is about the CALLING on your life. God uses PROCESS to develop you for the
CALLING. The PROCESS is infused in LONG stretches of ROUTINE days. ROUTINE days
are your true MIRACLES.
When I had my brain
surgery I was told that the arteries in the brain usually ONLY healed one (1)
millimeter an inch a month. A millimeter is 1/1000 of a meter or 0.03937 of an
inch.
The PROCESS was a
conglomeration of routine days. I improved EVERY day. I couldn’t see it, and my
healing was totally at God’s discretion. “…for I am the LORD that healeth thee”
(Exodus 15:26 KJV).
However, in the
meantime, I remained dependent and at the mercy of others. God enabled me to humble
myself. I waited with patient endurance. I
raise my hands and bow my head to the Sovereign God. “…those who walk in pride … [God] is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37
NIV). “…If
the Lord will, [I]
shall live, and do this, or that...” (James 4:16 KJV).
I took on Job’s attitude. “….All the days of my appointed TIME WILL I WAIT, till my
change come…” (Job 14:14 KJV “…WAIT ON
the LORD: …WAIT, I say, on the
LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
During the PROCESS, I
learned: “…MY TIMES are in
[God’s].. hand…” (Psalms 31:15a KJV). “…MY FUTURE is in [God’s]… hands…”
(Psalms 31:15a NLT). “….To every [thing there is] a season, and A TIME to every purpose under the heaven…” (Ecclesiastes
3:1 KJV). “…For the vision [is] yet FOR AN APPOINTED TIME, but at the end it shall
speak, and not lie: though it tarry, WAIT FOR IT; because IT WILL SURELY COME, it will not tarry….” (Habakkuk 2:3
KJV). “…And in the PROCESS of TIME “IT (my healing, deliverance or whatever)”
CAME TO PASS…” (Genesis 4:3 KJV).
PROCESS has a PURPOSE. WAIT on God through
all the boring, dull, monotonous days of routine. “… they that
WAIT UPON the LORD shall
renew [their] strength…” (Isaiah 40:31 KJV). “…WAIT ON the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I say, on the LORD…” (Psalms 27:14 KJV).
“…The LORD [is] good unto them that WAIT FOR HIM…”
(Lamentations 3:25 KJV). “…THOUGH IT TARRY, WAIT FOR IT….”
(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV).
MIRACLES are taking
place in your routine days as they prepare you for your CALLING. “…My
brethren ….the testing of your faith produces PATIENCE. But let PATIENCE have its perfect work, that you may be perfect (mature) and
complete, lacking nothing….” (James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Dear brothers and sisters
…when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your ENDURANCE is fully developed, you
will be perfect (mature) and complete, needing nothing….”
(James 1:2-4 NLT).
God is maturing you IN
Christ so that, “…You may be perfect (mature) and complete, lacking nothing….”
(James 1:2-4 KJV). “…Therefore …LET US PRESS ON TO
MATURITY…” (Hebrews 6:1 NASB).
God ALLOTS the
necessary TIME for the PROCESS of PURPOSE “…UNTIL Christ
be formed in you…” (James 4:19 KJV). “…UNTIL Christ is fully developed in your lives…”
(James 4:19 NLT).
“…And in the PROCESS
of time “IT” (your maturity) [will come]… TO PASS…”
(Genesis 4:3 KJV).
Take another look at
your routine days and ask God to show you the MIRACLES in those days. “…One person esteems one DAY above another; another esteems EVERY DAY alike. Let each be fully convinced in
his own mind.…” (ROMANS 14:5 KJV).
God has made EVERY single ROUTINE day, but
we take them for granted and see them as common days; not MIRACLES. “…This is
the DAY (Routine Day) which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it...” (PSALMS 118:24 KJV).
How would your ROUTINE days change if you
truly rejoiced and were glad in each and every one of them? “…Do everything without complaining…”
(Philippians 2:14 NLT).
Yes, it has been a LONG stretch of time
and you have been WAITING for God to fulfill some of his promises he made
personally to you days, weeks, months or years ago, but don’t let that make you
miss out on your DAILY miracles and blessings.
PROCESS has a PURPOSE, but JOY is not
limited to the PURPOSE, but it is FOUND in ABUNDANCE in the PROCESS of routine
days. “…This is the DAY (Routine Day)
which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it...” (PSALMS 118:24 KJV).
Routine days can remain dull, boring,
monotonous, or dismal or you can discover the blessings, miracles, and
treasures in each one. “…One person
esteems one DAY above
another; another esteems EVERY DAY alike. Let each
be fully convinced in his own mind.…” (ROMANS 14:5 KJV).
PROCESS has a PURPOSE and I hope you will
NEVER see your ROUTINE days the same again. “….that ALL things (all routine things) work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose…” (ROMANS 8:28 KJV). “…God intended it
(routine days) for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis
50:20 NIV).
I have written fifteen (35) full-fledged books in a year and a half and they ALL came out of my routine days. PROCESS has a PURPOSE.
Thus, there is a PURPOSE for the PROCESS.
May God bless your ROUTINE days from now
on…..“…This is the DAY (Routine Day)
which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and
be glad in it...” (PSALMS 118:24 KJV).
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