Habits

September 13, 2018

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 NLT

What did you do this morning that can be attributed to habit? Probably there are a string of things that you do because you have done them often enough on purpose that they become a habit. Things like brushing your teeth, catching up on the news, checking Facebook, perhaps even reading The Daily. Think for a moment. When you get to the end of this day, you will see that your day was largely directed by your habits.

In fact, a wise person has said, “Your life is the sum total of your habits.” Habits set us up for success or failure. Habits direct our decisions and lifestyles. Habits hold the reins of our lives.

King David finished strong. He had a couple of detours in his life, however, and they all were traced to his departure from the strong habits God had shown him were vital to develop in his daily life. When he got back to living life with this discipline, he was able to live with satisfaction and finish strong. He was able to overcome the moments when he felt like quitting. The first verses of the very first Psalm he wrote detail the overarching habits that comprised his lifestyle:

Not taking advice from the wicked.
Making sure he chose respectful, kind, and godly companions.
Loving God’s Word and ingesting it daily.

These habits lead to fruit and life, and away from quitting.

• Think about it—do I need to adjust any of these areas of my life? Do I seek and take advice from people who are not following God? Who are my companions? Am I taking time daily to encourage myself in God’s Word?
• Pray for wisdom in establishing basic, undergirding lifestyle habits.