I have a daily routine I have fallen into. I eat, sleep pee poop, run eat work,etc...day in day out. I always am thankful that it's not drink, pop pill, stumble stumble slur slur pass out anymore. However, today as I ran I had my eyes opened to the fact that even believers can fall into a 'mundane' routine.

As I ran, I noticed it was harder than yesterday, that I had to work a little more to get up the hills. I was having stiffness in muscles, my legs weren't moving right, but I came over a hill and saw the beginning of the sunrise. It made everything seem so frivolous. I began to think of my friend who I help. I took him to therapy yesterday. He has to relearn things that were routine to him. Walking, talking, concepts that are now foreign to him. He has to think carefully and multitask. Walking isn't just putting one foot in front of the other, it's holding your head straight, making sure your knee bends as you step, keeping your eyes forward and not looking down. He has a whole new perspective on stuff that we take for granted. I am learning that every day is something to embrace with a new sense of awe and wonder. I asked myself, what if today was my last day on earth? What if I knew that, how would I spend it? Would I notice the sunrise? The color of the sky as the day awakened? Would I smile more? Would I say hello to people I don't know?

Routines. We get so bogged down with everyday stuff that we forget the gift each day brings.

I began to think, you know, it's like these blogs. I write what's on my heart. I try to bring things to mind that make people think. However, how do I know that I'm reaching them? How do I know how many are actually reading them? How many are re-tweeting them or emailing them? I mean it takes a lot of work to create things for people to appreciate. That's when I heard God say, I know what you mean. I created this planet, this sky, the sun moon and stars. I wonder how many people look at them in awe? How many people appreciate the effort that goes into creating a new day with new mercies? (Now you know as well as I that God didn't say that.)

God knows our hearts better than we do. Yet, How many times have we let him know how much we appreciate not only his handy work, but also his love for us? When little children pray, they pray for every little thing. At first, as adults we find it cute, but then our minds shift into what we have yet to do before we go to bed. We think ahead to the next day. We sometimes even coax the children to finish up quickly. Oh to have that innocence again. To be so thankful for even the smallest of details and not be rushed by our routine.

I wonder how much more beautiful our life would be if we approached even our prayers with that innocence.

The great thing about the Grace and Strength Lifestyle is that it takes us out of our normal "routine" and changes the way we view food, exercise, prayer and bible reading. The great thing about God is he knows our hearts and he knows who is really appreciative and living to please him, and who is just going through the motions or 'routine' of life without a clue.

Regardless of where you are in the process of life, take time to embrace God and appreciate each day as if it were your last. When that becomes your daily routine, your days will never be "routine".

Pray Seek Believe Receive

David Michael Rose

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* Individual results may vary.