Accustomed to Being with God

Day 5 - Accustomed to Being with God

Scripture:

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.”
Luke 22:39 (ESV)

There’s a powerful phrase tucked into Luke’s account of Jesus praying before the cross:
“as was his custom.”

Jesus was walking toward one of the most intense moments of His earthly life and yet, He didn’t scramble to figure out what to do next. He went to pray. Not because of panic, but because of practice.

Theologian James K. A. Smith said, “You are what you love, and what you love is shaped by your habits.”
That statement is true spiritually and it’s true in everyday life.

I began to understand this as a kid learning to play the piano. I wasn’t a child prodigy who could just sit down and instantly play anything I wanted. My teacher and my mom drilled into me one word: practice. There were plenty of days I didn’t feel like it, and plenty of moments when it felt tedious.

But over time, those small, consistent habits formed something in me. They gave me skill I could lean on when it counted. I didn’t become a musician in one big moment, I became one through a hundred small ones.

The same is true in our walk with Jesus.
We don’t become more like Him by accident or by good intentions alone. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen through inspiration it happens through formation. Through rhythms. Through habits. That’s why Luke tells us Jesus went to the Mount of Olives as was His custom.

Jesus, fully God and fully man, built intentional space to be with the Father. He knew His humanity needed rest, renewal, and strength. Time with God wasn’t a last resort. It was a regular rhythm.

And if Jesus needed that time… how much more do we?
As we pray and fast during these 21 days, we’re not just doing a temporary spiritual challenge. We’re building habits that shape what we love and shape who we’re becoming.

Some people around you may not understand it at first. They may wonder why you’re choosing this discipline, why you’re saying no to certain things, why you’re carving out time for prayer.

But over time, they’ll simply notice:
“As was our custom, we went to be with Jesus.”


Reflection

• What habits are shaping your attention and affection right now?
• What is one small, consistent rhythm you can commit to during this fast (even 10 minutes a day) to be with Jesus?

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for showing me what it looks like to live from a place of time with the Father. Help me build habits that draw me closer to You. Give me grace on the days it feels hard, and perseverance to stay consistent. I want to become someone who is accustomed to being with You.
Amen.