Holy Habits

Hebrews 10:24–25

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Do you know what this is? Yes it’s a toothbrush.  I am about to brush my teeth. But it’s more than that. It’s a habit.  Brushing my teeth is something I do over and over again, at the same time every day.  Habits are an important part of life.  There are good habits and habits.  I am in the habit of leaving rooms and not turning off lights.  That’s a habit that drives Linda crazy.  I am also in the habit of getting up early and going for a walk with Molly, our dog, pretty much every morning.  That’s a good habit.  

Now I know that “developing good habits” is something our mom’s harped on every day.  We probably got sick of hearing them say it.  I know I just hated it when my mom would tell me again and again, “Quit chewing with your mouth open.”  “Mom, I know!” would be my reply.  “If you know it, why don’t you do it?” was always her next question.  But you know as I grew older, I discovered something.  My mom did know some things… well many things.  She was right in wanting me to develop good habits – picking up my room, brushing my teeth, chewing with my mouth shut…  Getting in good habits helps me to make sure I am doing all the things that I need to do to take care of myself, to respect those around me and to live life in a good, healthy way.

All that brings me to this question, “What are your spiritual habits?  Your holy habits?”  Once again, when it comes to spiritual habits there are good habits and bad habits.  In Hebrews 10 we read about people who were in the bad habit “neglecting to meet together…”  They had gotten in the habit of not going to worship.  People who haven’t been to a church service in a while will often say to me, “I have just gotten out of the habit.”  The list of good and bad spiritual habits  is long - having daily devotions or not having them, praying daily or neglecting to pray, participating in a Bible study or not participating in Bible Study, attending worship or skipping worship, encouraging others in their faith or tearing them down.

The thing about habits is that they are developed.  They don’t just happen.  I haven’t always been good about brushing and flossing my teeth.  Like all bad habits, I paid a price for that every time I went to the Dentist.  What changed?  I started brushing my teeth.  It became a habit.  Then Linda got me this electric tooth brush that helps me track how much time I spend on every part of my mouth. My habit got stronger.   I haven’t always exercised.  What happened?  I started walking on a tread mill.  Then I got a dog who gives me a reason to go for a good walk every day.  Now my daughter in law has put together a series of exercises.  Exercise has become a habit.  Linda and I haven’t always had daily devotions together.  But we do now.  How did that happen?  We started having devotions.  Now just sitting down to breakfast together reminds us.  Reading God’s word and praying together has become a habit.

Understand, holy habits are not things we do because we want God to love us more.  He already loves you and me with an everlasting love… with more love than we could ever deserve.  No these are habits God invites us to because He wants to bless us… to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to him.  People ask, “Why should I give time to these habits?” Bonhoeffer and Luther would say, “That’s simple – because God commanded you to.”  But to that I would also add this.  If you were invited to eat a gourmet meal of your favorite foods would you ask, ”Why would I want to do that?”  No, you’d just dig in and enjoy.  That’s what holy habits are all about – an opportunity to dig into and enjoy God’s many gifts.

What are your holy habits?  Pause for a moment today and make a list of them – good and bad.  Then ask yourself, “What do I want to change?  What new habits do I want to develop?  Pick one, pray and start… start today.  Make it one of your holy habits.