Habits - 2 March 2010

We all have habits of one sort or another, some are good some are not.  Some have grown over the years without us noticing and we would defend them as “just things I do”.  For instance, I always put my left sock on first and remove it last, never my right, it has become a habit.

In fact we all have to develop certain habits just to get by.  We have to get up at a certain time, go to work, probably travelling by the same route each day, get our meals, do the housework, do the shopping, take care of the children or pets if we have them.  The list seems never ending.

However, we can be partial to habits of personal indulgence that are not good for us.  In fact they can be downright harmful, but we defend our right to continue them even in the face of clear evidence of the damage they can do to us.  I remember in my youth going out on the town with a few mates most Saturday nights for a drink or two, then, perhaps, on to a local dance hall hoping to chat up some lucky girl.  Some hope!  On a number of occasions it ended with me “shouting down the big white phone” and vowing never to do it again.  It took me a few years to learn.

Some last rather longer.  I started smoking at about fourteen when I was at school – it was the “grown-up” thing to do.  As many of you will know I gave that up at the end of last October, it was a habit that had lasted over fifty years.  Of course I would never have admitted the harm I was doing to myself.  I had spoken to God about it and finally knew it was time to stop.

This all came to mind after reading some of Proverbs.  I was particularly taken with Proverbs 23 and recommend it to you.

Finally, I hope that you are not going to church on Sundays simply out of ”habit”, but to be with God in his house, praising and worshipping, and enjoying his presence.

Lord, help us to nurture those habits which are good for us and relinquish those which are not, that we may be more worthy of your love. Amen.