Muscle Memory for the Soul
“God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.”
That’s a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot lately. My friends from Tanzania were the first to introduce it to me. I remember standing in front of their congregation, and the exchange went like this:
Pastor: “God is good,”
Congregation: “All the time,”
Pastor: “All the time,”
Congregation: “God is good.”
There’s something so powerful about hearing an entire room of people declare God’s goodness together. But what about when we’re not surrounded by a crowd? What are we declaring then?
When the chips are down, when the fever spikes in the middle of the night, or when the bills outlast the money, that’s when what we really believe comes to the surface. In those moments, we don’t rely on feelings, but on the deeper knowing we’ve cultivated over time. That’s when we need to choose to say it out loud, with purpose, “God is good.”
There is a holy light in naming God’s goodness while sitting in the pit of despair. And there is wisdom in saying it on the best of days too. That practice, spoken in joy, helps create the spiritual muscle memory we will need when life feels like H. E. double hockey sticks.
It reminds me of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, 5th-century monastic Christians who prayed ceaselessly using the Jesus Prayer: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” They prayed it so consistently that, over time, the prayer became part of them. They were no longer simply saying the words, they became the prayer—fully known, fully loved, fully held in grace.
I see a similar hunger in many of you. A desire to grow that deep spiritual memory. Worship is a beautiful place to begin. Before worship starts, or during communion, try centering yourself with the Jesus Prayer or simply whisper, “God is good, all the time.”
These prayers are tools, small but powerful. You can pray them while you drive, do chores, or sit quietly. You can use them to interrupt negative thoughts or to help re-center in difficult moments.
They are more than words. They are reminders to your wonderfully complex brain that no matter what happens, you are deeply loved by God. Nothing—no hardship, no pain, no darkness—can separate you from that love.
If you’re ready to explore more ways to build this kind of spiritual muscle memory, we’d love for you to join us:
Wednesdays at the Church
Prayer and Meditation at 10:00 a.m.
Come breathe deeply, rest in stillness, and open to God’s presence.
Bible Study at 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a rich conversation around scripture and daily life.