Who doesn’t like to take vacations? I personally long for my vacation time. There is only one problem: I take my vacations too seriously. Many times I also take vacations from my exercise routine and my diet, among other things.

It is acceptable to slow down during vacation time, but sometimes disregarding routines can result in lasting negative effects. This can easily lead to a ‘new’ routine, resulting in things such as, our body getting used to no exercise or overeating. When this happens it can be extremely difficult to go back to our daily routine.

There are routines that cannot be neglected. An example is the spiritual exercises (prayer, Bible reading, congregate, fasting, etc…). Spiritual exercises can be neglected even without going on vacations. Our busy lives can lead to this at any time.

We can easily get used to the lack of spiritual exercises. Just as the body adjusts to routines that can have harmful results, failing to perform our spiritual exercises could result in habits that are unhealthy for our spiritual life.

The Bible contains some references of spiritual practices such as:

pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances … – 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. – Joshua 1:8

Owe no one anything, except to love each other – Romans 13:8

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. – Hebrews 13:16

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some – Hebrews 10:25

If we study the life of Jesus, we will find that in one way or another these practices were an integral part of his life (going away to pray, quoting scripture, loving and helping those in need, or going to synagogue). The same is true of the believers in the early church. We have an example to follow.

It is important to take time to rest, but make sure that you never take vacations from your spiritual exercises.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27