Establishing a Summer Rhythm

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

Every May our family summer kicks off in the same way. The boys last day of school concludes, they come home, drop backpacks, trade them for beach bags, we load up everything we can fit into our car and head south for Florida. We waste no time with Summer... Jumping in feet first to white sand, blue waters, slathered with sunscreen – new beach reads in tow.

When the fun is over we head back home into a brand new schedule. Or should I say, lack thereof. There are no 6:30 alarm clocks, breakfast at 7:05, out the door by 7:30. Each week with its own routine and family-wide understanding of how it unfolds…. piano lessons on Monday, mowing on Tuesday, church rehearsal early on Wednesday night, Thursday Ethan works, etc etc etc.

And being a creature of habit, this always leaves me flailing. At least for a week or so. Because within the family routine, I have one of my own. A wake time, a read time, a pray time, an hour for exercise, certain mornings for work and other days for errands. I see Mamaw most Wednesdays (BINGO at 2pm!), clean on Thursday. You get it.

And sadly as my routine shifts, I have noticed my spiritual life does, too. Type A, Ennegram 3 here, desperately needing some new customs for summer that keep my heart attuned to the presence of God in my life. Anybody?

I suspect I am not alone here. I have friends mention a similar need for something fresh. A way to wake up and know – “God this is how we roll today!” If I am not intentional with the first hour of my morning, I will waste looking for a new spice rack on Amazon or researching that book a friend mentioned the day before (both true stories).

Maybe structure isn’t your thing. Totally fine. Maybe the lazy mornings of summer are exactly what your soul needs. But if you are like me, I need to wake up to a little routine.

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. Luke 4:16

We see in Scripture that Jesus had some habits built into His life, as well. We know he woke early to be with the Father. Sneaking off before sunrise to pray and be alone. And here, in Luke 4:16, the wordethō tucked in this passage, highlighting some habits of Jesus weekly rhythm.

Custom (ethō): as His manner was, that which is habit

There it is. Habit. Jesus had weekly habits in place around His life with the Father.

I love this.

Before sharing some rhythms I’m establishing for summer, take this morning to reflect on areas you may need some summer structure, too. Maybe around morning quiet times, engaging kids with Scripture, new prayer habits, a fresh reading plan, setting aside time for quiet, etc.

What are some new ethōs you’d like to establish?

And come back later this week! I’ll delve a little deeper into some new practices to keep my soul abiding in God!

Love to you all!