DAILY INSPIRATION
Habits are the thought and emotional patterns engraved on our minds. These internal habit patterns play just as forceful a role as external influences on our actions, in fact, perhaps more so...
As unbelievers, we formerly gave ourselves to developing habits of unholiness-what Paul called
"ever-increasing wickedness" (Romans 6:19). Every time we sinned-every time we lusted, coveted, hated, cheated, or lied-we were developing habits of
ever increasing wickedness. These repeated acts of unrighteousness became habits that made us, in fact,
slaves to sin!!
Though we are to deal with these habits of unholiness, we must not try to do it in our own strength. Breaking sinful habits must be done in cooperation with the
Holy Spirit and in dependence upon Him. The determination that
"I'll not do that anymore," based upon sheer human resolve, has never once broken the shackles of sin. But there are practical principles which we can follow to train ourselves in godliness.
Though we are to deal with these habits of unholiness, we must not try to do it in our own strength. Breaking sinful habits must be done in cooperation with the
Holy Spirit and in dependence on Him. The determination that
"I'll not do that anymore," based upon sheer human resolve, has never once broken the shackles of sin. But there are practical principles which we can follow to
train ourselves in godliness.
The first principle is that habits are developed and reinforced by
frequent repetition....This is the principle underlying the fact that the more we sin the more we are inclined to sin. But the converse is also true. The more we say
NO to sin, the more we are inclined to say
NO!
Therefore, in dependence on the Holy Spirit, we must systematically work at acquiring the habit of saying no to the sins that so easily entangle us. We all know what these sins are; the sins to which we are particularly vulnerable. We begin by concentrating on saying
NO to these. Then God will lead us to work on other sins which we may not even be aware of at this time. The more we succeed in saying
NO to our sinful desires, the easier it becomes to say
NO.
In the same manner we can develop positive habits of holiness. We can develop the habit of thinking thoughts that are pure, true and good. We can develop the habits of prayer and meditating on the Scriptures. But these habits will only be developed through frequent repetition.
8 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if you thoroughly execute judgement between a man and his neighbor, if you do not opress the strnger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt , then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. AMEN!
Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear faulsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after gods whom you do not know, 10 and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say 'we are delivered to do all these abominations'? 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? behold, I, even I, have seen it,: says the Lord. Jeremiah 7:8-11
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That is why I developed the habit of reading
'Our Daily Bread' every morn, and read the passage that goes along with it in my Inspirational Study Bible, by:Max Lucado
By: MAX LUCADO
