I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to get stuck in a rut. Things get going and lives get busy, and the next thing you know, you’ve built patterns and habits to get you through each day. A lot of times it doesn’t happen consciously, and we can keep going for a long time on these established daily or weekly routines.

Until something comes along that shakes them up. Maybe that’s an unforeseen life circumstance. Or maybe it’s us, deciding to make a change.

Perhaps it’s my personality, my upbringing, or my life situation, but here’s a truth about me: Sometimes I forget that I have the ability to make a choice. Occasionally I even feel stuck and like changes are impossible. Sometimes it takes something big, like God redirecting my steps, before I reevaluate areas where I can make different choices.

Recently I’ve been thinking about my daily routine. Making space for things that have been neglected or discarded. Allowing room to take care of myself with better eating and sleeping habits. Not floating on by with routines that may or may not have been working, but choosing to aim for better.

It’s easy to get on autopilot. To scroll social media instead of tackling a project. To reach for a comfort food instead of a healthier selection. Now don’t get me wrong—there’s nothing wrong with social media or comfort foods. I quite like both. However, I find myself these days thinking more about each decision and whether or not it’s one I really want to make. What’s going to be the end result? What if I spend these next 15 minutes working on something productive? What if I go to bed on time? What if I choose to exercise?

There’s value in knowing what is the better choice. Sometimes the better choice is to watch TV and give your mind a break from the stress of life. Sometimes it’s more valuable to take an afternoon nap than an afternoon walk. This knowledge tends to come with awareness of what is most needed—and it’s exactly that awareness that I’m trying to cultivate.

Always it’s the best choice to spend time with God, reading His word and talking with Him in prayer. After that, the best choices are listening to Him moment by moment and not falling asleep to what we ourselves or others around us need. What’s the real need? What’s the choice we can make to meet it? These are the questions I want to explore more fully.

I also want to remember I’m never powerless when I rely on God’s direction and make choices that lead me toward becoming more of who He wants me to be. Even when we are in situations where we feel stuck, God is always moving. Maybe our choice in those times is to keep our eyes on Him. That’s decision that’s never wrong.

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