Habits

     Habits are a funny thing. Dictionary.com defines them as, "an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary". So you do something so many times that you don't even realize that you do it anymore. Cool. That's all fine and dandy - until sin comes along.
     Sin, with its pull on you like gravity can break any habit at any time...especially if it is spiritually-related, such as reading your Bible or praying. And once a habit is broken it can become extremely hard to put back in its "involuntary" place. I used to describe my Christian walk as always taking two steps forward and one step back. Now I believe it can be more accurately depicted as taking two steps forward, completely forgetting how to walk, learning how to walk again, taking two baby steps forward - and then repeating this cycle over and over again. When you are in the grip hold of sin and the devil sometimes you forget who you even are, or who God created you to be.
     When we are in the throws of sin, it can be a nasty place - and we can become nasty people because of it. I have my good days and I have my bad days. The bad days reveal that I am still a sinner and have not reached heaven yet, and the good days reveal that I have a Savior whose grace is more than enough to keep me from falling. I completely agree with Paul when he says, "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15). As Christians we want to serve and obey God but because of our sin we do not always (or usually ever) complete that desire.
     This is why we must preach the gospel to ourselves everyday, and if you're like me you'll probably have to punch yourself with the gospel everyday. This is why we must have a fierce determination to actively oppose Satan and his lies and to live for Christ as soon as we get up in the morning. This is why the Christian life is called a battle and a race because it calls for strength, stamina, courage, determination, endurance, grit, and hope.
     My parents have this contraption - don't ask me what it's called - where you hang upside down. Weird, right? Well I didn't think it was that cool until I realized the purpose behind it. And that was to be Batman. Just kidding. The reason for this thing is to benefit your spine. Apparently, throughout the day, gravity pulls down on your spine so that all your discs become crunched together - probably causing pain and tightness on the nerves. Terrible, I know. But by hanging upside down at the end of the day for 5-10 minutes, it elongates your spine and (supposedly) puts it back in the correct position. I don't really know how well this thing works - all I get is a headache whenever I use it so I wouldn't advise purchasing it.
     Anyway, what that contraption thing supposedly does for your spine is what the Word of God really does for us. Earlier I said that sin pulls on you like gravity, and it's true. It's always with you everywhere you go, and it affects every human being. It causes pain and disorder among your soul, whereas gravity does it to your body. Being in God's Word daily, hourly, minutely - that is what is going to bring relief.
     Paul also says in Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind". As Christians we have already been transformed tremendously through the miracle of salvation, but we are to be continually transformed and renewed daily. One of the definitions for renew is, "to make effective for an additional period." That means that we have to keep on renewing ourselves, implying repeated renewing, and we can become even more new through excessive renewing!!
     It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to "Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Sometimes we will have to press on, and sometimes we will have to body slam our way through the race - either way Christ is indeed Immanuel - God with us. And when we fall or when we forget, He never fails to pick us up and remind us of His promises. When we have no strength, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength." (Isaiah 40:29).
     "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth! Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow! Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!" Even though I constantly fail to be faithful, YOU never are!!! Thank you, Blessed Savior!!