A New Year Reflection: What Does God Say About Habits?

So it's the new year! Our culture here in America stands by watching a "ball drop" and ring-in the new year with making resolutions. Many make a full list of things that they will change for themselves. This list could include losing weight to saving money and more. But, wait for a moment here, do we as a people ever complete these lists, and if we do are we satisfied with ourselves? Would we create another list during the year or just be content with what we did? What if, we do NOT complete the list? Then what happens?



“Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do).”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change


 PSY BLOG states that a habit could take from 18 to 254 days:
Although the average was 66 days, there was marked variation in how long habits took to form, anywhere from 18 days up to 254 days in the habits examined in this study.   



So now we have a baseline on what it takes to create a habit, what does God say?


The Bible talks about all things that we encounter and how we should react and decide on decisions that will and should be filtered through the Holy Spirit guiding our thoughts and actions.

1 Corinthians 6:12

New International Version (NIV)

¹² “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

Ephesians 5:1

New International Version (NIV)

5 ¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
 So with this filter in place we learn that not everything we do is best and that we must not become controlled by the world and it's devices.

Proverbs 4:20-27

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
²⁴ Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

 

 

Acts 20:35

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁵ In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”


Christ wants us to live for Him! To make our thoughts, speech, and actions be a blessing to others and at the same time a form of Worship to God. So this year, remember that these "resolutions" are usually man-made, without accepting the fact that you will need to change and not just for the short-term or long-term, but a permanent change, and a change that can only come through the power of Jesus Christ entering your life and leading you on. 

For you see, these choices (habits) you make of wanting to change without making any effort to either remove some people from your life or seek out others to  assist you in your walk can be in vain. It takes dedication and work to day by day to make sure that the changes you want will continue on. Now remember, the devil is always at work to try and stop us, but hold onto Jesus and never let go.  If you fall, get back up and live your life in such a way that others can see the Christ in you.

God Bless,

JMC Ministries