Should I Stick to My Daily Schedule or Run Each Day by the Seat of My Pants?

In the beginning of 2021 I would go to God frustrated about not being able to get anything done that I needed to.  I felt a slave to each day and only got in what I considered most important – Devotions, Running, and Serving my Family.  There didn’t seem to be any time to do anything else.  But God asked me every time I complained to Him,

“Does it really matter?” 

For some time this frustrated me and I always came back with “Yes it matters because this is what you have called me to do.”  And… my frustration continued. 

At some point I remember it dawned on me, “No Lord, it doesn’t matter, because You are all the matters.  You are all I need.”  It was so relieving to let go of all my burdens.  Over time I did find more than enough time to do everything the Lord was calling me to do, but I feel like He allowed that time of frustration to help me realize that nothing on this earth matters more than Him.  It’s a relationship with Him and nothing more. 

So now that I have plenty of time to do what the Lord has called me to do, should I stick to my daily schedule or run each day by the seat of my pants?

First off I thought it would be fun to talk about what our picture perfect day looks like to each of us.  I want you to think about yours and then read mine.

04 am – Rise without an annoying alarm.  Immediately thank God for the day and tell Him good morning

04:15 – Brush teeth, make special drink, take pills, grab a bite to eat, make bed, get dressed

04:45 – Start Devotions

06:00 – Work

06:30 – Run

09:00 – Change clothes and Breakfast

09:45 – Chores

12 pm – Lunch

01:00  – Work

01:30 – Check in with God

03:00 – Snack and Workout

04:00 – Supper prep or Work

05:00 – Supper and Clean Up

06:30 – Study, Work,  and/or Family Time

08:00 – Read

08:30 – Bedtime Prep (Teeth, Foam Roll, Journal)

09:30 – Read Bible

10:00 – Sleep

Did you notice how there was things that stood out to you as crazy or unrealistic compared to your schedule?  That’s because your life is not mine, and my life is not yours.  Because we both have completely different lives and so do the people we interact with, our schedules are going to look completely different. 

Is this the schedule I actually go with everyday? 

Not exactly.  I very rarely actually get my butt out of bed before 5 and depending on the schedules of my family and those I interact with, I have to be flexible, sometimes very flexible.  However this is about what a day looks like if nothing happens out of the ordinary. 

And it also depends on what time of the year it as to when I do things because the sun rises and sets at different times and that changes when I do my outside activities.  Because of this “perfect schedule” never being perfectly executed I decided to change my daily schedule to something like this.

Morning

1. Morning Routine (Make Bed, Coffee or Tea, Take Pills, Get Dressed)
2. Devotions
3. Run
4. Work or House Chores

Afternoon

1. Lunch
2. Check in with God
3. Work or House Chores

Evening

1. Supper
2. Family Time
3. Read
4. Bedtime Routine (Foam Roll and Read the Bible)

Additional Tasks to Do in Free Time

1. Work
2. Second Workout
3. Family Time
4. Study

Notice in the second schedule how there are no time lines and how additional tasks are to be done when there is time.  Life is a roller coaster and God brings things our way that if we follow Him will almost always cause us to be flexible.   For me personally, at the end of the day a perfect schedule was one I did what God led me to do. 

God has called me to be a runner and so that is a priority of mine every day.  Work is also something God has called me to but He has also blessed me with a job that can be moved around and done at any time of the day, so I take advantage of this and work with other peoples schedules as much as possible. However God is always first, then family, and then close friends.

I have a morning and evening routine that I try to stick to of which they each take about 1-2 hours and it doesn’t matter what time of day this is, whether 4, 5, or 7am – normally I’m in bed before 10 every night so that stays about the same.  But I might also have a side job away from the house, or family shopping, holiday parties, ministry opportunities, etc.  So then again it all depends on the day and the time of year.

One thing I have learned over the years, 2021 in particular, is to have a schedule but be okay with things changing.  I remind myself of what is most important and I surrender my desires to the Lord.  This has freed me so much and allowed me to make a choice in each moment of what will matter in eternity – this task that I was hoping would please God, or talking with Him and creating a deeper relationship? 

I challenge each of my readers to take the phrase, “Does it really matter?” and put it on note card where you will see it quite frequently throughout the day.  Just let the phrase run through your mind and allow God to use it as He wishes.

I love ya’ll and pray you will begin to discover how much God wants a relationship with you over what you can do FOR Him.  Until next time, Happy Running Ya’ll!!