Creatures of Habit

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,

But let us encourage one another –

And all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:25

All the way to church this morning – walking and riding on the U-Bahn train – I kept thinking to myself, “Today, I am not going to get a Diet Coke.  I am going to get something different to drink.”  Yet as I walked into the gas station where I buy my drink in the morning, it was like somebody switched on my automatic pilot.  Without even thinking about it I did what I do pretty much every morning.  I went over, got a bottle of diet coke, and purchased it. 

I guess old habits are hard to break.  I am such a creature of habit.  This isn’t the only example.  When I get up in the morning, I do pretty much the same things in the same order every day.  I wake up. I lay in bed praying. I get out of bed.  I check on what the Cubs did last night, I take Molly for a walk.  I feed her.   I get washed up and ready for the day. I eat breakfast.  I pack up for work.  I go to work.  Linda will tell you I have other habits.  When I drink my orange juice, I leave one little sip in the bottom of the glass.  Why?  I don’t know.  Habit I guess.  That one drives her crazy.

That’s the thing with habits - some are good and some are not so good.  Saying “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” are good habits.  Not remembering to say those things is not a good habit. Eating potato chips and drinking diet coke each day is not such a good habit.  Eating grapes and drinking water would be a better one.  Some habits like smoking or eating candy, or drinking too much alcohol, or eating too much are not healthy.  Getting up and walking each day… eating right - Those habits are good. 

There are also spiritual habits – some good and some not so good.  Each of us has our own habitual sins.  For one it might be gossip… for another lying.  For one man it was the language he used.  When he talked, every other word was a vulgar word.  It was such a habit that he didn’t even realize he was doing it.   I have had many a person tell me that they haven’t been in church for a while because they got out of the habit.

Yes going to church is a habit… a good habit.  Taking time to pray… or failing to take the time – either one is a habit.  Reading your Bible or not reading it… attending Bible class or not attending… those are all habits.  Maybe you have heard of something called “spiritual disciplines.”  That’s just a fancy way of talking about healthy spiritual habits. Yes going to worship, reading your Bibles daily, attending a Bible Class, spending time in prayer, being regular at Holy Communion – those are all important, healthy spiritual habits.  Why?  Because in worship, in His Word, through Holy Communion God feeds and strengthens our faith with a healthy spiritual diet of His grace and forgiveness. He holds out to us His promises.  In prayer God invites you to practice your faith, to practice trusting Him and His promises.

These habits are important  I know from personal experience that when I get into bad habits in these areas, my faith grows weak.  I get anemic spiritually.  That’s why the writer to the Hebrews writes, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, But let us encourage one another…”  There is the key to stopping bad habits and developing good ones – having people to hold you accountable and encourage you.  In Flower Mound, I got in the habit of doing the dishes in the morning before I left for church. I got in that habit because Linda kept gently reminding and encouraging me. Then when I started she noticed and thanked me.  In groups like AA and Celebrate Recovery people have accountability partners who they can turn to when they are struggling with Alcohol or whatever their bad habit or hang-up is.  My role as pastor is to encourage people to be in the word.. to invite them to develop this habit… to remind them that being male is no excuse for not being in Bible class and so on.  Kendra is a big encouragement to me.  Periodically she comes in asks me , “How are you and Jesus doing?”  She means, “Are your praying?  Are you reading God’s word?” 

So I want to ask you – Is there someone you have asked to hold you accountable?  Who do you encourage?  That’s the key to stopping bad habits and developing good ones.. After all we are all creatures of habit.