It is a subtle gravity that takes hold as the years pass—the law of spiritual and physical inertia. We often find comfort in the predictable, mistaking a rigid routine for a stable life. Yet, while we serve a God who is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” we also serve a Creator who is the author of perpetual renewal. To be “set in our ways” is often to be closed to the “new thing” God is doing in our midst.
There is a quiet seduction in the daily loop. We wake, we look at our screens, we follow the same paths, and we retreat into the safety of the known. While discipline is a virtue, habitual inertia can become a cage. We praise the infinite variety of the natural world—the shifting tides, the unique bloom of every flower—yet we often choose to live our lives in grayscale, repeating the same patterns until they become ruts.
When a friend calls with an unexpected invitation, our first instinct is often to protect our schedule rather than embrace the person. We view disruption as an enemy to be defeated rather than a divine knock at the door. In the Gospels, the call to follow Christ was the ultimate disruption. Fishermen were asked to drop their nets mid-cast; tax collectors were asked to leave their booths mid-calculation. They had to overcome the inertia of their “ways” to step into a larger story.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:19
Breaking a habit is not merely an act of willpower; it is an act of spiritual surrender. Whether it is the digital pull of a phone or the mental pull of a rigid schedule, change requires us to acknowledge that our routines have become our masters.
To break the cycle, we might look to the tradition of “fasting”—not just from food, but from the very thing that is most deeply etched into our calendar. By intentionally removing a “set way,” we create a vacuum that the Holy Spirit can fill with something fresh.
So, How does it feel, Webb? Wind at you back, momentum a-plenty, only green lights ahead, and even the feel of “moving ever so slightly downhill. Yes, Sir, l believe you are on a roll… on your A-game (at least you are with me 👏😂👍) with your recent messages. All I can say is “Thank you” for being a source of encouragement, enthusiasm, and hope. Write on.