“According to his usual habit Paul went to the synagogue. There during three Sabbaths he held discussions with the people…” (Acts 17:2 GNB)
A habit is “an established pattern of behaviour acquired through frequent repetition”; in other words, anything you do consistently and repeatedly over time becomes a habit. At the first, you’re the one who consciously or unconsciously create your habits, but eventually your habits will form your character and influence your behavioural pattern. Thus you’ll become the product of your habits.
There’re some people who may be unhappy with their habits; perhaps for example, they find themselves always telling lies and as a result have become frustrated with themselves. What they hadn’t realized is that it didn’t happen overnight; they must have told one ‘little lie’ today and another one next week and so on, until they finally became known as untruthful people. So, if you desire to change any undesirable habit, you need to remember that habits are simply repeated actions—if you would replace that old habit with another, you’d get rid of the one you don’t like.
The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14), and then in Ephesians 4:25, it says put away lying (Ephesians 4:25). So, the guy who has a habit of lying must now decide to consciously tell the truth. And the beautiful thing is that it doesn’t take too long. Anything you do six times consecutively, in the same way, will get into your personality and begin shaping your behavioural pattern.
If you would tell the truth six times consecutively, you’d get rid of a lying tongue. If you’d attend church services six consecutive weeks, you’d cultivate the habit of always being in church. If you’d wake up to pray early in the morning six days of the week in a row, it’ll become to you a habit! Whatever godly habit you desire to imbibe, I want you to know it’s possible, so go ahead and develop godly habits today.
Prayer
Dear Father, through the help of the Holy Spirit, I’m cultivating and imbibing healthy, godly habits in my Christian walk. Thank you for giving me the liberty to choose to live right and free, and live to my highest potentials in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
Further Study
Hebrews 10:25 GNB: “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer”
James 1:21-22 GNB: “So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you. Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice”
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
