Godly Habits

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Scripture

Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”

~Jeremiah 18:11, AMP

Quote

“Our character is basically a composite of our habits.”

~Steven Covey

My Thoughts

A habit is a behavior, action, or way of thinking that a person does regularly and can become involuntary after being repeated so many times. Examples can be: checking your phone for messages first thing in the morning [not my habit] or putting your right foot in your trousers first. Habits are formed by repetition. Unfortunately there are good habits and bad habits. Some thirty years ago I got a chance to take SEVEN HABITS taught by Steven Covey himself and it literally changed my life. I had a lot of bad habits and I knew that I needed to make some changes. Covey said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

Jeremiah warned Judah that they needed to make some changes. They had developed some ungodly habits and they needed to form some Godly habits. I heard a good message last Sunday about forming godly habits and I want to share his outline. The man is a friend of ours and one of the most gifted humans I’ve ever met, he can do anything including preach. These are FIVE HABITS OF A GODLY LIFE.

  1. PRAYER…make prayer a habit. Jesus, of all people, was in a habit of praying. In Mark 1:35, Jesus slips off to a quiet place to pray and the disciples panic because they can’t find Him and they have a schedule to keep. They wanted to pray and get on with the business, Jesus understood that prayer is the Business. When we work, we work: when we pray, God works. Make prayer a habit.
  2. FAITH…make trusting Christ a habit. Rely on Him for every need in your life. Stick to the advice in Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
  3. BIBLE READING/STUDY…make reading your bible a habit. Do you enjoy reading the bible or do you read it simply because you know you need to and it is the right thing to do. I want to tell you how to transform your daily bible reading and I guarantee it to work. Get a modern translation. I began with the CEV which has a daily bible reading schedule in the back. Read the bible through in a year. Get a couple of friends to make the same commitment and hold each other accountable. I think there were three in my group and one man had read the entire bible by April. Then find you another translation, one a little more difficult like the NIV and read it again. By the time you finish the third bible, you will have a PASSION for reading God’s word. You will be spending hours in bible study. NOTHING WILL BECOME A PASSION UNTIL IT BECOMES A HABIT.
  4. OBEDIENCE…Make obedience a habit. Most people, due to our rebellious nature, have trouble submitting and obeying. King Saul had trouble obeying due to his fear and insecurity and this lead to his undoing. Remember this; GOD LOVES OBEDIENCE and He will bless it. Jesus was never impressed with lip service but He loved obedience. Moses told Israel…If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. Do you know what kept Israel from being the greatest nation on earth rather than the United States of America? Their disobedience! There is your way and God’s way and I promise, His was is best.
  5. FORGIVENESS…Make forgiving others a habit. My mothers favorite verse was Ephesians 4:32,  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

These are five godly habits that we all need to cultivate. {Sermon outline by Keith Blackwood}


Extra

There is no way we can express our gratitude. I am amazed, astonished and completely overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and sympathy. I have never seen anything like it in my life. For those who did not get to come to the COLS, we had a beautiful service that only the Holy Spirit could have orchestrated. We cried together, we laughed together but the highlight was praising God together. Thank you folks. You will become weary of me thanking you for all you have done. I keeping repeating my favorite worship word…WOW! I could just as easily use Keiths UNBELIEVABLE! One of the grands [can’t remember which on] said as we sat around the fire pit last night, “That was the best Celebration of Life Service I’ve ever seen.” Your presence was a part of that wonder and awe. Thank you.

I usually wake up before 4:00 and get to the office by 5:00 and have the blog published by 6:00 but not today. I didn’t wake up until 5:00 and didn’t get up until 6:00. I didn’t see the sun rise this morning and I thank God for a wonderful night of rest. June had breakfast on the table when I got up and when I said the blessing, I thanked the LORD for no agenda, no schedule today. I may have to run to Hartselle but my hope is to hang around the compound today. By the way, I have two pecan pies—The LORD provides.

Joe David showed my little sister Beth how to find the blog. Beth, it you read this, shoot me a text. If that bunch in Athens start reading the blog, I will have to stop talking about them.

Have a great day!!!!

Can’t proof my writing on same day so you will find mistakes….

Extra/Extra

~May 20th Shrimp Boil at the Pavilion: too hot to cook in the sun.

Everybody that reads the blog is invited. We will be outside. May have a bean bad tournament. One of my daughters gave James a pounding the last time we played and he wants a rematch. She will beat him again. James said he had never been beaten by a woman. He has, he just doesn’t know it. I can call her by name: starts with an E. Shoot me a text and tell me you are coming and I will get Patrick to order another pound of shrimp.

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