I really am a very structured creature. Routine. I wallow in it. When I did morning radio, I never made the bed. Ever. Largely because Julie was still in it when I left the house and she would have been annoyed if I tried.
Now I MUST make the bed. I would somehow feel incomplete if I didn’t. I have a routine for that. Smooth the sheets, pull up the comforter, put the throw pillows on the bed – Julie’s side first, then mine. Then I fold the blankets and put them across the foot of the bed. Julie’s on the bottom – because it’s a little bigger. Mine on top – equally spaced in the center of the bed, barely hanging off the bottom of the bed. Nope. I’m not riddled with ADD. Not me.
Then I open the curtains. It’s like I’m ready to start the day. Shortly thereafter, Bella will get up on the bed to lay on the blankets to look out the backyard window at the things – you know – the things she chases. I get a little annoyed, because A. Dogs shouldn’t be on the bed (ya, right), and B. She just messed up my work of ADD perfection. The sheets and blankets are no longer smooth and crisp. But I let her stay, because, after all, she is Bella, and the things must be tracked.
If it’s a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday at precisely 6:00 p.m., Julie and I will be having a Manhattan, watching TV, and mocking what people said on social media. If I am heading to work, I first go out into the garage to put my computer and suit jacket in the truck, then I come back inside to get a to-go cup of coffee for the 32-minute drive into work. I take the same route to work. I listen to the same podcast. I park in the same spot, unless Buck parks in it, and then I am pissed because doesn’t she know that’s my spot?!
I get up at 4:00, go downstairs, get a cup of coffee (made the night before and automatically brewed at 3:48 a.m.), two hardboiled eggs and two pieces of toast, and take my breakfast upstairs to my studio/office where I read the Bible, and then start tapping on the keyboard before me right now. It’s 4:31 a.m. I’m a little ahead of schedule – today’s Bible verses were brief. So I am writing this.
Day in, day out. Week in, week out. Year in, year out. Decade in, decade out. It’s just so damn routine. And I love it. I find great comfort in the routineness of my routine. It’s changes – I once was a radio talent and operations manager. Then I was just a radio talent. Then I was a radio talent and County Commissioner. Now, I’m a County Commissioner. The routine changes with each station in life, and that change can be uncomfortable, but I always find a new routine – quickly – and that brings me comfort. When I find something so natural, I somehow hope it aligns with my Creator and pleases Him.
So I took to the Bible, because it must say something about the goodness of routine. It kinda does. It may not spell out “thou shalt keep a daily schedule,” but it does emphasize the benefits of discipline, consistency, and living life with intention.
Here are a few key areas where the Bible underscores the goodness of routine:
1. The Consistency of Creation
God Himself modeled routine and rhythm in creation. In the Genesis account, God created the world in a clear, ordered sequence, bringing light and darkness, establishing seasons, and setting the stage for day and night cycles (Genesis 1). This rhythm emphasizes the natural order and regularity God designed for the universe. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven,” reflecting the wisdom of regular patterns.
2. Daily Practices of Worship and Prayer
Scripture encourages daily devotion and regular time with God. Psalm 5:3 says, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Daniel exemplified a godly routine by praying three times a day, despite the threat of persecution (Daniel 6:10). Jesus also had regular habits, often retreating to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16).
3. Wisdom in Order and Planning
The Bible praises a lifestyle of discipline and warns against laziness or disarray. Proverbs 6:6-8 instructs us to “consider the ant” and learn from its ways of diligent work and preparation. Proverbs 21:5 adds, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Routine, in this sense, is about intentionality—an organized life allows us to fulfill our responsibilities with excellence.
4. The Value of Daily Provision and Trust
God provided manna daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, teaching them to rely on His faithful provision each day (Exodus 16:4). Jesus echoed this rhythm when He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), highlighting the importance of daily dependence on God.
5. Sabbath Rest as Part of a Routine
God commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath every seventh day, building rest into the routine of life (Exodus 20:8-10). This cycle of work and rest underscores the value God places on structured, repeated patterns, reminding us of the importance of balance and faithfulness.
6. Spiritual Discipline and Growth
Paul often used metaphors of discipline and training, like in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27, where he likens the Christian life to an athlete’s regimen. Spiritual growth, like physical training, requires consistency—practices like Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service help build our faith over time.
So look at me.
What I thought was me being riddled with ADD is actually me living Biblically. Routines give structure to our lives and remind us that we are called to live purposefully. They keep us grounded, balanced, and consistent in our spiritual walk. In a world that’s often chaotic, routines can also help anchor us to what matters most: our faith, our family, and our values.
Here’s to our routines! Since I am writing this on Friday morning, I’ll say a toast to them. At somewhere around 6:03, with the Manhattan I am drinking from the Waterford crystal glass Julie brought back from Ireland. It will happen exactly that way. Why? Routine.
