When I drive home from work on Mondays I don’t turn on the radio because I spend my time reflecting on the previous week.
I try to figure out what my column will be about that week. For many years I have written my column on Monday evening. The exercise of reflecting on my week is a very good activity because it helps to give me perspective on life.
Some Mondays I have the entire column written in my head before I sit down at the computer. The ideas are popping and the thoughts begin to roll out on the screen.
Then there are those Monday evenings when I have no idea what God wants me to write. I think back on the week and nothing sticks out in my mind.
Last week was one of those weeks. It was routine. The older I get the more I like routines. I don’t have to think, I know what I have to do.
I get up and go to work and then I have certain things I do each evening. Don’t go messing with my routines.
The weekend was quiet and we got some things done, but it was a comfortable routine weekend.
The only thing that upsets me about routines is if I can look back and not see God actively interacting with me.
I like quiet weeks, but I want God to be nestled into the fabric of my life. If I can look back and see His fingerprint on the week, then that is a good routine week.
But if I look back at a week and I see that I left God out of my routines, then that is not a good week and it breaks my heart.
Every one of us has had a tough or even terrible week. We run to God during those crazy times, looking for His comfort and guidance. We want God to rescue us.
But what about when things are moving along smoothly, do we want to include God in our lives then?
It seems to me that when things are smooth or routine, we tend to let our relationship with God slide. We forget that our spirits need to be fed and recharged by the presence of God in our lives.
It’s interesting to me that when things are good economically and there are no wars, many people turn away from God.
They become dependent on themselves and trust in their government leaders. They might throw a prayer God’s way during a special holiday, but they leave God out of their everyday routines.
As soon as disaster arises or the enemy comes and attacks them they cry out to God and expect Him to rescue them.
Sadly, sometimes they don’t cry out to Him in desperate times either. Sometimes God allows the enemy to win and the people to be taken captive. Other times, especially when the people cry out to Him with repentant hearts, God comes to their rescue.
God doesn’t want you to wait until you are at the end of your rope. He wants a relationship with you every day. He wants you to know Him, to pray to Him, to talk with Him like you would a good friend.
He wants to be a part of your everyday routines. He wants you to thank Him before meals. He wants to know about your joys and sorrows.
God wants you to read about Him and His ways in the Bible. He wants you to make reading the Bible a part of your daily routine. He wants to talk with you while you are driving to and from work.
He wants to be invited along while you run errands. He wants to be included in your conversations with friends. He wants to be with you every moment of every day. He wants to be the first to greet you in the morning and the last one you talk to before you fall asleep.
Routinely quiet weeks can be good when we include God. If you feel like God has been pushed out of the routines of your life, I want to encourage you to rekindle the relationship. God stands at the door of your heart and wants to be invited in.
He cares deeply about every aspect of your life and wants to walk with you as you experience it. Invite Him into your routines so you will sense His presence when you really need Him.

Doug Creamer lives in Faith.