Here at RPLNISH we have a saying that we challenge each leader with;
Divert Daily
Withdraw Weekly
Abandon Annually
Diverting daily is creating a space within my day to focus on God and His word. I know. Sounds super simple and almost kinda cheesy. But honestly, it takes time and discipline to create that space and not just rush through it. I have realized that I get to decide if I will seize my day, or if I will just let it happen to me. I make a choice each evening about what the next morning will look like. And if my day has an early start, I set my alarm to get an even earlier start so that I have time to hit my knees in prayer. Also, I take time to make coffee, but I get everything ready the night before. Even when I don’t feel like it or I’m too tired.
Now I know that you’re thinking, all of this sounds very elementary, but I’ve been around long enough to know that people would just rather complain about their day instead of planning ahead and doing something about it.
So what does my morning look like? Well, I mentioned coffee before, and yes, it is a very big part of my morning routine. The night before I get everything ready so that I can come into the kitchen (in a sleepy fog sometimes) and turn on the coffee maker. (I am a little high maintenance so it is a little more involved than that, but I will spare you the details.) While the coffee is brewing, I go into my office, shut the door, get a small pillow and get on my knees, to begin with a prayer of surrender and repentance. Then I go back to check on the coffee and as it's finishing up, drink a glass of water (you are dehydrated when you first wake up). I pour a cup of coffee and return to my office to read. I love taking a little time to really try and digest what I am reading. Too many times we speed-read through the scriptures just so that we can check the box.
Then I do some quick journaling;
- The date
- The scripture reference of what I read
- What I feel the Lord has shown me in the Word, even a short sentence
- and What I am doing that day
If I have extra time that day, I will sit and meditate on a certain thing that I read for 5 minutes, or sometimes I will sit back, close my eyes, and ask, “Lord, what do you want to speak to me today?” and then be quiet and be still.
Then I get up and go about my day.
I know, nothing groundbreaking or revolutionary here.
But sometimes it’s the simple things done consistently that create that RPLNISH mindset.
Yes, sometimes this whole routine isn’t possible. But for the most part, it usually is. It’s just a matter of priority. Not doing this routine is the exception, not the rule. Yes, I get up when it’s dark outside. Yes, I get up before everyone else. But that’s when it’s quiet and I can divert just before the craziness of my day begins.
Keith Morrison is a RPLNISH board member and Executive Pastor at Keypoint Church in Northwest AR. @keithmorrison