Good Habits
“But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.”
When I was in Jr. High and High School, I was good at starting projects but not at finishing them. I loved the idea of the new and shiny. The minute things got complicated or frustrating, it felt easier to just move on to the next shiny, new thing. What I had done, inadvertently, was create a habit of not following through. After my first semester of college, this bad habit was also adversely affecting my schoolwork. I needed to make a change.
First, I committed to finishing my reading every day, for each class. If I was confused or frustrated, I promised myself I would make an appointment with my professor. It worked, and I expanded it to other aspects of my life. If I started a novel or a fun book and continued reading after 25 pages, I would commit to finishing it. It became a habit, and when I committed to a volunteer program, I would see it through for at least one year.
I've been far from perfect in this endeavor, but I can say it's become a habit, and when I didn't meet my goal, it felt uncomfortable. Even when I felt like I failed, the habit helped me realize I was on the right path.
Our faith in God is a habit. The Christian faith requires a weekly habit of worship. It requires a habit of Scripture reading/devotional practice. It requires a habit of compassion, peace, and justice. It requires a community habit. These healthy habits are not always easy, but they bring clear direction and strong faith.
Today, think about the habits in your life. I am not talking about the bad habits. I am talking about the good habits. How have you been able to accomplish the things you've done in your life? Any success comes from good habits. What habits can you continue to nurture so that you can make persistent, positive change? Supporting and creating positive habits will strengthen your faith and bring wholeness to your life. God will use and bless your positive habits, now, and for the rest of your life.
