Habits Worth Having
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.”
I imagine you are not that different from me. I’ve occasionally wondered, “If I could do life over again, knowing what I know now, what would I do differently this time around?” What would I have done instead? Considering this question provides wisdom in how we address the rest of our lives. It might even help us reaffirm the roads we’ve chosen to take throughout our lives.
Nicholas Cole, the Founder of Digital Press, wrote an interesting article entitled, “7 Critical Lessons People Often Learn Too Late in Life.” A devotion does not provide the opportunity to discuss all seven. His number 3 is entitled, “Our everyday habits form our future selves.” Habits are worthy of our attention.
Habits can be bad, but habits can also be helpful, and profoundly meaningful. Cole rightfully points out, “What you do today is one more action toward who you will be tomorrow.” If our action is to drink heavily every day, we will become alcoholics tomorrow. If we pray every day, we will become a person of deep faith in a God we can know intimately. “Do not underestimate the power of each and every small habit, replicated over time.”
The great joy in this lesson is that habits can change. One day without alcohol can become two, which can become a week, then a month, a year. Over time, the habit of being without alcohol, one day at a time, can be transformed into a good habit. The Holy Spirit helps us form new, better habits.
The Spiritual life is about habits. The ancient monks of many different religions understood the power of habits. They honored the routines of prayer, work, and fellowship. Daily prayer and weekly worship are essential habits for a faith-filled life. Today, reaffirm your commitment to living the rest of your life with faithful, honorable habits. Your faith life will grow, and you will be proud of the life you’ve lived. Start today!
