The Rhythm is Gonna Get You with Pastor Ryan Braley

Central Lutheran Church - Elk River

What forces are shaping your life right now? Beyond your conscious awareness, daily habits and patterns are carving pathways in your heart, sculpting your desires, and ultimately determining who you become.
When we repeatedly complain, our lens for viewing the world darkens. When we reach for our phones first thing in the morning and scroll mindlessly through social media, we feed anxiety and discontentment. These aren't neutral activities—they're formational practices with profound consequences. As Aristotle wisely observed, "We are what we repeatedly do." The truth is stark: every action repeated creates grooves in our hearts like vinyl records, and these grooves determine what song our lives play.
Modern neuroscience confirms this ancient wisdom through concepts like Hebbian theory: "neurons that fire together, wire together." Our brains physically reshape through repeated experiences. This neurological reality mirrors a spiritual truth the Apostle Paul recognized when urging believers not to be "conformed to the patterns of this world." The dominant culture exerts tremendous pressure to mold us according to its values—often without our awareness, like fish unaware of the water they swim in.
The solution isn't simply trying harder or gathering more knowledge. As Richard Foster noted, "Superficiality is the curse of our age...the desperate need today is not for more intelligent people, but for deep people." Transformation requires counter-formative rhythms that train our hearts to desire God's kingdom—practices like gratitude, Sabbath rest, genuine connection, worship, prayer, and fasting.
Ready to break free from unconscious patterns and intentionally shape your life? Join us as we explore spiritual practices that don't just modify behavior but transform desires. Start today by adopting a rhythm of gratitude—just one minute each morning noting three things you're thankful for—and watch how it begins reshaping your perspective on everything else.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to The Rhythm Series (00:00:00)

2. Rhythms That Shape Who We Are (00:04:12)

3. The Science Behind Repeated Actions (00:10:24)

4. Records and Grooves: Heart Pathways (00:16:32)

5. Transformation Through Renewed Minds (00:21:47)

6. Sin's Deep Grooves and Breaking Free (00:25:36)

7. Practical Application and Invitation (00:30:01)