Make a Habit of It

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters. (Nathaniel Emmons)

What we make of ourselves can directly be linked to the habits we cultivate. You know I often talk about starting your day by tithing your time to God through Bible reading, study or prayer. I talk about that so often because I know how much it has increased the quality of each day by giving God my first time in the morning. It is a habit I worked to cultivate. I didn’t just wake up one morning and change my morning routine. It came in baby steps. It was a habit, I’ll admit, established out of need, not so by devotion or self-discipline. Over time, I really noticed a change in me, my attitude, my mood and it ceased to be an effort. It became a joy, an anticipated practice, a divine habit.

We all have habits; some are productive, some not so much. Some are just downright bad for us. I shared the quote about habits being either the best of servants or the worst of masters because it is true and a powerful observation. We can control our habits or they can control us.

Why do it the nasty habits seem to have more power than the good ones? Let’s face it, some people can’t get through the day (or maybe even the hour) without a cigarette or drink, yet they certainly miss brushing their teeth before bed without giving it a thought. The bad habit satisfies the flesh and the good habit is doesn’t weigh so heavily on the flesh gratification scale.

Bottom-line – it is all about the flesh and our human desires.

Habits become as comfortable as a warm bed on a cold morning. Even if it is a habit we don’t like or notice anymore, we slide into it without thinking. Biting your nails, picking your teeth, reading before bed each night, taking your medicine at the same time, hanging your clothes the same direction on a hanger, the way you load the dishwasher, they’re all habits we cultivated at one time or another. There are so many more, and you know what yours are if you think about it for a moment. They are the actions we take routinely, consciously or not, which allow us to revel in our comfort zones undisturbed.

I’ve heard it said you cannot lose a habit once established but you can replace it with something better…or worse. I think we can break a habit. That’s not to say it will be easy but it can be done when intent and purpose work together with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We, on our own, will default to the flesh. Sad but true. It is the loving and godly direction through the Holy Spirit that brings us outside of our fleshly ways and into a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.

So, here I am, once again talking about starting your day with God. Ask God to show you where you can amend your morning routines to allow for time with Him first. Maybe it’s getting up 15 minutes earlier so you can read a few scriptures. Don’t whine, 15 minutes one way or the other is NOT going to alter your sleeping/rest time. Maybe it’s forgoing the morning news on TV or in the car in favor of listening to Christian tapes. Filling your mind, thoughts and heart with God rather than the latest murder story can significantly change your mood.    

 
Start with baby steps and before you know it, you will gladly jump out of bed eager to have breakfast with the Lord. Start a new, healthy, eternal habit today!