Habits! Good or Bad?
February 8, 2010
We are creatures of habit. We know that habits, or routines, are behaviors we learn by repetition because of a need, or to experience a certain pleasure. Most of these routines are good, like flossing our teeth or eating our greens. Some are harmless, like always putting our shoes in a certain place or making our bed a certain way. Personal preferences dictate these kinds of habits. But the bad habits we form, like watching too much television, or sleeping so late we have to rush around screaming and yelling the next morning as we try to prepare for work, school or whatever.
One bad habit that many of us form can be deadly, and by that I mean spiritually deadly. That is the habit of being so disorganized or busy that we never take the time to be alone with the Lord—to be quiet and listen to what He has to say to us. As true Christ Followers, we should aspire to be just like Him, and He set the example of rising early in the morning to spend time with His Father. Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place; and there he prayed.,( Mk 1:35 NKJV) So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16 NKJV) If He needed that time with His Father, then why do we assume we can do without it?
Let’s consider the value of meeting with God the first thing every day. Our minds are less cluttered, we’re rested, there’s no outside interference, and we honor Him by giving Him our first waking moments.
“But wait!” Some of you are going to cry, “It’s impossible! My circumstances never allow me any time to be alone with the Lord!” Then invite Him to go with you. He will gladly share every part of our day if we will ask Him because He desires more than anything to be with us. I know for I have been there. So here’s a good habit I have formed. I try to constantly remind myself that He is by my side at all times and I can include Him in every thought, word or act. Is it easy? No, because the adversary will try to divert our minds for his purposes. When I realize that has happened, I begin to use those bullets I wrote about last week, and Satan has to flee.
One thing I know for sure. When I make my time spent with God my highest priority, all other things fall into place. How about you? –Rebecca Somoskey
