Routinization

 

Routinization.

I wasn't sure if that was even a word. Surprisingly, it is and not surprisingly, it means "the state of becoming routine."

Routines are good. They help us feel safe and in control. This is especially true for children. We are all creatures of habit by nature. Need to be convinced? 

What pew do you sit in every Sunday? Where do you put your keys, coat, purse, etc. when you come home?  Does your family all sit in the same place at the dinner table?

Like I said, routines can be a good thing. However, they can also lead to some bad habits. A second definition of routine is "a boring state or situation in which things are always done the same way."

Routines in our spiritual life is one area where it can become dangerous. When we learn how but forget why. Routinization. 

We do it in our worship at times. Have you ever sung the words of a familiar song but didn't really think about what you were singing?  Have you ever read or recited a familiar scripture without truly ingesting the full meaning? And what about your prayer life? Ever find yourself saying basically the same thing? Imagine if your spouse said the same thing to you every day in exactly the same way. You might eventually stop listening or at least begin to think he or she doesn't really mean what they are saying.

I'm not saying we can't sit in the same pew on Sundays or that God won't listen to our prayers if we say the same thing. It's more about us then it is about God's response. Is my worship from my heart or just from my mouth? 

Over and over in the Bible we are told to "sing a new song." Psalm 33:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1 just to name a few. God wants our worship to be fresh and meaningful, not stale and routine. 

Something to think about, huh.