What Rhythms Are in Your System?
Bringing the Kingdom of God Into Your Home—Even on Vacation
SPF: A Travel Rhythm for Kingdom Living
God is our great provider. And He builds families not just with goals, but with rhythms that last for eternity.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
—James Clear, Atomic Habits
What rhythms do you have in your systems that bring the Kingdom of God into your home?
Not just when you're “on mission.”
Not just when you're at church on Sunday.
But even when you're on vacation, in the chaos of car seats, flights, packing cubes, beach bags, and the fast food you try to avoid.
These questions began to surface in my mind as we traveled with our three young children. I love traveling. I love the adventure, the freedom, and the shared moments. But every time I zoom out, something stirs in my soul—a holy tension and conviction:
What’s the real reason we’re going?
Are we traveling to unwind?
To make memories?
To be happy?
To give our kids something we didn’t have?
None of those are wrong. But if they’re the only questions we’re asking, we’re missing the deeper purpose. And we may be falling to the level of our systems instead of rising into God’s Kingdom vision for our families.
SPF: Spirit. Physical. Fun.
That morning, the Holy Spirit gave me a simple acronym:
SPF.
Not sun protection.
Son fuel and Soul protection.
Spirit. Physical. Fun.
This acronym became a spiritual filter for how we travel—and more than that, for how we live.
The Verse That Sparked It
That same morning, I read Psalm 75:10:
“God says, ‘I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.’”
—Psalm 75:10 (NLT)
This psalm was written to Israel as a reminder: God governs all things with justice and mercy. From the beginning, He tears down the proud and encourages and strengthens the faithful.
In Hebrew, the word for "godly" here is chasid—from chesed, meaning loyal love or covenant faithfulness.
The “godly” weren’t just morally upright.
They were a covenant people who didn’t just worship on feast days.
They built systems of remembrance and worship into their homes, holidays, and daily habits.
They meditated on the Word.
They rehearsed God’s story.
They trained their children through repetition, reflection, and relationship (Deuteronomy 6:7).
God didn’t strengthen the strong—He strengthened the faithful.
And the more time I spend with God, the more I realize:
That’s the kind of family I want to be.
Not just fun.
Not just to unwind.
Not just to make memories and be happy.
Formed. Faithful. God-centered.
Why Systems Matter More Than Inspiration
We live in a culture obsessed with spontaneity, allergic to structure, and addicted to dopamine. But if there’s one thing God has shown me in this season of leading my home, training for ultras, and discipling my daughters, it’s this:
You don’t mature by accident. You grow by intentional design.
Just like in the Old Testament, obedience and worship weren’t performances. They were relational rhythms.
And just like Israel needed rituals to remember God, our homes need daily, weekly, and seasonal spiritual systems that keep us aligned with His mission, whether we’re home or away.
Even a vacation can become a formational field when we slow down and build in intentional rhythms.
That’s where SPF comes in—on vacation or at home.
How We Use SPF When We Travel
We don’t want to block the Son—we want to walk with Him.
So here’s a simple way to keep your travels spiritually rooted:
S — Spirit
How will we center this trip on Jesus?
What part of God’s character do we want to meditate on this week?
Who can we reach with the gospel—at the gas station, on the trail, or in line for coffee?
P — Physical
How will we honor God with our bodies?
That doesn’t mean rigid workouts. It might mean a beach run, walking instead of Ubering, or swimming with your kids instead of scrolling your phone.
It’s about being fully present in God’s creation.
And if you do have a physical challenge that’s sanctifying—lean into it! Sometimes the hard things are holy ground.
F — Fun
How will we delight in the joy of being together?
This could mean game nights, deep belly laughs, shared adventures, or simply taking the time to slow down and connect.
Because joy isn’t a luxury—it’s a fruit of the Spirit.
When we build spiritual rhythms into our systems, every trip becomes a discipleship opportunity—even if you're in flip-flops and your favorite sunglasses.
Psalm 75:10 Is a Kingdom Pattern
This verse isn’t just an Old Testament proverb—it’s a Kingdom principle, echoed throughout Scripture:
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:6
“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” —Luke 14:11
“The Lord lifts up the lowly…” —Psalm 147:6
Three thousand years later, it’s still true:
God breaks self-reliance.
God strengthens the faithful.
He doesn’t look for perfection.
He looks for people who show up daily—at home, on the road, in the quiet, and in the mess.
Never Finished Challenge: Build Your SPF Rhythm
Wherever you are this week—traveling or not—take 5 minutes to establish your own SPF rhythm:
SPIRIT — Choose one way to prioritize God’s presence
(Scripture, prayer, journaling, a spiritual conversation)PHYSICAL — Move your body in a way that refreshes your soul
(Walk, hike, sweat, stretch, play)FUN — Intentionally enjoy something with someone you love
(Game night, dancing with your kids, a new experience, shared laughter)
📅 Do it for 7 days.
💬 Talk about it at dinner.
🙏 Ask your kids or friends, “What did you see God do today?”
You don’t have to be a perfect family.
You just need to be a faithful one.
Whether you’re married or single, parenting or not, the godly are not the most gifted
They are the most grounded.
And their strength, because of God in them, will only increase.
What Does Today Say About God?
Provider.
No matter the season, God always provides what I need:
A word.
Encouragement.
Food or finances.
Correction.
Clarity.
Rest.
And it’s not because of my performance.
It’s because the greatest provision—Jesus—has gifted me a relationship that opens the door to radical obedience and blessing.
What a King.
What a Father.
What a Friend.
Thank You, Jesus.
What an awesome reminder. A nice vacation should not make you feel guilty, as long as you are honoring God before during and after. Great way to connect and reset spiritually. SPF. “God doesn’t strengthen the strong, he strengthens the faithful.” Thank you Jesus