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It is important in life that we are always conscious of what we are doing
and thinking about. We must be in control of what we allow to enter into
our eye gate and our ear gate because what we continually hear and see is
what will be drawn back to us and what we think about and focus on is
where our life will be led to. That is why we must be careful to form the
correct habits in life. We can't allow junk to enter into our life and
think it will not affect us negatively. Everything we think about and
focus on will become a part of us. That is why we must form the right
habits, think about the right things and not give in to the temptations
that try so hard to steer our life off of the right path.
We must always remember and keep in mind that what we continually do will
eventually become a part of who we are. If we give in to the temptations
time after time, then habits will be formed which will take root in our
hearts and they will become a part of us and eventually cause our ruin.
What we continually do is what we will eventually become. That is why we
should always meditate on the right things. We should listen to good,
encouraging and uplifting things, we should look at and focus on the right
things and we should never put anything into our body that can cause it
harm and make it a slave to those substances.
See that it is within your ability to break every bad habit that is in
your life. Never think that it is impossible or that you are beyond
hope. You simply must form a new routine in place of the old one. When
you do so long enough, you will form a new routine and in turn a new
habit. Statistics have shown that it takes about 30 days to either break
a bad habit or to create a good habit. That is why rehabilitation centers
usually keep a person as an inpatient for about 4 to 6 weeks. They keep
the patient in a healthy, positive and encouraging environment showing
them that they can overcome the substances that have kept them bound.
I believe this rehabilitation principle works, but it takes a committed
effort. Change does not come unless we are ready and willing to change.
Just as we can form bad habits, we can also form good habits. We can put
away every lustful desire of the flesh and replace it with good, wholesome
and pure living. When we pray and ask the Lord to give us strength for
the day, we should do so in faith believing that we can overcome and be
victorious over every temptation that tries to pull us down. Be encouraged
to believe in yourself. Your past does not define your future. You can
be victorious over every obstacle that is in your path. Believe it for
yourself and do the necessary work that will allow your life to reach its
fullest potential.
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see that it is
within your ability to be triumphant and victorious over every bad habit
that has kept you bound in the past.
PAYING ATTENTION TO HABITS
There was a fire one night at a convent and several nuns who lived on the
fourth floor were trapped. They were praying for divine providence to show
them a way out of the fire when one of the sisters screamed, “We need to
take off our robes, tie them together, and climb down to safety.”
Later as they were recounting the event to reporters, they were asked if
they were afraid that the crude rope might not hold up. “Oh, no,” they
said, “Old habits are hard to break.”
Do you know the story of the touchstone? It tells of a fortunate man who
was told that, if he should find the “touchstone,” its magical powers
could give him anything he wanted. It could be found, he was informed,
among the pebbles of a certain beach. All he need do is pick up a stone -
if it feels warm to the touch, unlike the other pebbles, he has found the
magical touchstone.
The man went immediately to the beach and began picking up stones. When he
grasped a pebble that felt cold, he threw it into the sea. This practice
he continued hour after hour, day after day, week after week. Each pebble
felt cold. Each pebble was immediately tossed into the sea.
But then, late one morning, he happened to take hold of a pebble that felt
warm, unlike the other stones. The man, whose consciousness had barely
registered the difference, tossed it into the sea. He hadn't meant to, but
he had formed a habit, and habits can be hard to break.
Most of my habits are more like routines. I habitually arise about the
same time every day - too early, it seems. I exercise. I fix oatmeal for
breakfast. Most days I listen to the same kinds of music and even read the
same kinds of literature. My routines include those places I like to
visit and the people I like to see. It's all fairly predictable. But what
I call routine is more like a series of habits, some of which work well
for me and some I should perhaps look at a bit more closely.
In fact, any behavior that I repeat, I reinforce. If I repeat it often
enough, it becomes habit. Soon I don't even think about it - old habits
are hard to break. Even good ones.
A Spanish proverb says: “Habits are first cobwebs, then cables.” The
metaphor works well for “bad” habits. They first entice, and then ensnare
us like a cobweb. And if we continue in the behavior, the web grows
stronger and can be as difficult to break as a steel cable.
But some habits can work in our favor. Such as patterns in the way we live
our lives. Or positive attitudes and healthy ways of thinking. Our
habitual attitudes and behaviors can either help us or hinder us.
The truth is this: we form our habits, then our habits form us. So we
ought to pay attention to the habits we're forming.
Is there a behavior or attitude you would like to make into a habit? Then
reinforce it by repeating it at every opportunity. Is there a something
you wish to change? Then substitute a different attitude or behavior and
repeat the new one every chance you get.
When it comes to habits, practice may not make perfect. But practice will
certainly make permanent. Your habits will form you. So form the habits
you want and let them mold you into the person you want to be.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
3 John 11 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.
He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”
Proverbs 4:23-27 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put
far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look
straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways
be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy
foot from evil.”
Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of
the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf
also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
1 John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we
say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem155.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: AN ANGEL BY MY SIDE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony194.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
