1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) 7 Have
nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself
to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value,
but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present
life and the life to come.
A habit is a repeated practice that becomes
ingrained in one’s lifestyle. It is a way of doing something that is consistent,
regular, and often unchanging. I have owned an iPhone 5 for several years. And
for several years I have accessed it by swiping the screen. But the latest
version of iOS changed the way of accessing the features of the phone to
clicking the start button again instead of swiping. I am still weeks into the
change and have not yet gotten the swing of it yet. It’s a little bit like
having to write the correct date (year) on my checks in early January. After
“swiping” for years it’s taking a while to get used to pushing a button. A
simple and trite example, yet a good description of how habits work in our
lives. We get very comfortable with our habitual way of doing things and
discover that change is not always easy, and often not even wanted.
Habits, as we all know, can be negative or positive.
We may regret them – even hate them - or we may experience blessing and better
things in life because of them. The habit of taking a shower every day helps my
relationships to prosper. Flossing and brushing my teeth helps me to enjoy
eating and speaking… and smiling. Drinking or eating the wrong things
habitually may add inches to my waistline or harm my organs. Some habits have a
way of trapping us – even enslaving us - into actions that can be dangerously
harmful to us physically or emotionally. Some are not dangerous – just annoying
(usually to others). We brush off some of our habits with “I can’t help it!” or
“What’s the big deal? It’s not hurting anybody.” New Year’s resolutions are all
about habits: usually stopping bad ones and/or starting new ones. Sometimes we
succeed. Sometimes we struggle. And sometimes we fail to change in ways we
would like.
When you think about it, you realize that there was
a time in your life when you did NOT have every habit you have now. Every habit
starts with a first “encounter” or experience. If it brought pleasure, or some
good result (such as health, peer approval/social acceptance, confidence, feeling
good, or an improved self-image), it was likely repeated. And when it was
repeated enough (some people suggest 21 days of doing something will establish
it) it became a natural, ingrained part of our life. This can be an encouraging
thought, because there are things NOT in our lives now that we wish were. And
just like our current habits didn’t exist at one point, so these things are
rare or non-existent now. But that can change. If it changed before for things
we do now, it can change again for things we want to do. Habits start in the
heart and are willed into our being.
The spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, the
reading of the Word, memorizing Scripture, fasting, service, silence, solitude,
submission, abstinence,…) are a kind of habit, designed to strengthen the soul
in service to Christ. These practices promote spiritual growth in any person
who believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion that
have been practiced by Christians since biblical times. Dallas Willard, in The Spirit of the Disciplines wrote…
“Discipline works by indirection. A
discipline is something we can do that enables us to do what we haven’t yet
been able to do by our own direct effort. Trying is not enough. (“Don’t try —
train!” is a way to paraphrase 1 Tim. 4:7.) Our training is connecting us
with a power much greater than our own — the Spirit of God that raised Jesus
Christ from the dead!
So if you can’t break the power of an addiction to alcohol or
pornography one step to get free (in addition to obvious measures like 12 Step
Recovery and psychotherapy) might be to fast from food. With practice you can
experience the reality that fasting
is feasting: even though you’re not eating you’re sustained in the
joy and peace of God by meditating on Scripture and praying. If you can get
past headaches and grumpiness when fasting and learn to be sweet and strong
without getting the food you need then you can apply this to resisting your
compulsive behavior.
The other way discipline works is because we’re developing new and
healthy habits. You
can’t be good at golf without developing a number of specific habits in your
body — there are seemingly a hundred aspects to a good golf swing! We can’t
even drive our cars safely without habits. Without thinking about it we notice
conditions on the road and break when needed.
The spiritual life works the same way. We need bodily habits that
engage our mind and heart with God. We want to get into a position in our daily
lives where we find ourselves meditating on Scripture, praying, or blessing the
one who curses us without even having intended to do so. Using an intelligently
designed course of disciplines over time will do that.”
Why try? Well, that’s the wrong
question. The question is, “Why train?” Habits change, or are added, through
training, which feels hard at the time. But the goal is always worth it. Just
ask any athlete, musician, artist, carpenter, or anyone who develops a skill.
What they do looks so natural and easy… until you try it yourself. Then you
appreciate all the hard work of training that has led them to the joy of
practicing or performing that skill which they make look so effortless. But
just ask them if they got to that point or place without effort. Many desirable
ends come through the means of discipline and habit.
May the Lord help us to know the joy
of change and of seeing habits that honor Him become the joys of our lives and
one of the ways He forms us into the likeness of Christ.
2 Corinthians
5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the
old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, I urge
you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
PRAYER: Lord, when I face the next “I can’t” in my life,
I will wait upon you and trust in you. You will help me and will seek you.
Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
No comments:
Post a Comment