Scripture and Habits

Scripture speaks to procrastination – usually calling it slothfulness or laziness or referring to the sluggard. Does scripture address habits? I think so, and it’s really making me pay attention.

Psalm 119:4-5 recently gripped me. It even includes the things we’ve been considering lately – diligence, habits, direction.

“You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!”

Diligently – How God wants us to keep His instruction. Do what needs doing when it needs doing.

My ways – How I think and act, including my habits

Directed – Deliberate, controlled movement along a particular course

The cry of the psalmist is, “Oh I wish I were just naturally bent to be faithful to God!” Amen! Like the apostle Paul, we struggle as we see ourselves do what we should not and not do what we should.

However, we can learn where to aim. We can stay on the path going there that makes us Christlike and fulfills our calling so that we actually become and accomplish what God prompts.

God gives us the power to do it! He even designed us with “habit ability” – muscles, brain, and heart able to form memories that make our faithfulness more “automatic behavior.” I want to take advantage of His provision! I want to replace slothful habits with diligent ones. (Habit Help, June 8, 2015 and Digging for the Keystone, June 15, 2015)

Here are some other scriptures that motivate me to consider my habits:

“I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to your testimonies‚Ķ” Psalm 119:59-60

“Direct my steps by your word and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

“Do not let sin reign in your mortal body‚Ķ” Romans 6:12

Lay aside the weight and sin that ensnare and run with endurance. Romans 12:1

The fruit of the Spirit includes faithfulness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

There is diligence involved in running to obtain the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Be diligent regarding self- control, perseverance. 2 Peter 1:5

There’s diligence in the habits of the ant – Proverbs 6:5-11. (Many other Proverbs.)

We can apply these scriptures by changing habits that resist God to habits that facilitate our faithfulness to Him.

Lord, direct our ways to keep your precepts diligently! Thank you for such blessing!

What scripture moves you to action?