But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

                                                                                            Hebrews 5:14

Dear Friends and Members of IBC,

On Sunday, I spoke a little about the need for us to develop ‘holy habits’ in our lives. In this week’s ‘Word of the Week’, I would like to briefly expand upon this.

Very few of us enjoy trying to establish a new habit/routine/rhythm into our lives, as this often requires some self-discipline. We like things just the way they are. We are ‘creatures of habit’. And it would appear that God has also created us to work well within structures and routines. We see in the universe around us that things work within a system, there are a series of natural laws that determine things. So, having said this, something that can be of enormous value to us in our Christian lives, is to pray and reflect upon where we might have picked up deep-rooted, sinful habits in our lives. Things we just do when we are under pressure, words we just say in a given moment, behaviours that come naturally in certain situations. And then consider how we might break these sinful habits by purposefully acting in different ways whenever the set of circumstances presents itself.

Added to this, I encourage us to prayerfully consider what habits God is seeking to install in our lives. These might include a regular morning and evening Bible study/prayer time, a set day of fasting, more faithful church attendance, consistent giving, regularly calling someone, or journalling our feelings. At the same time, even small, not overtly spiritual habits, like getting up at the same time each day, eating a healthy lunch, and regularly making our bed (!) can be valuable. The research out there indicates that it typically takes humans a little over two months to form a new habit (https://jamesclear.com/new-habit – this is an interesting, secular website). So, if you have a habit in mind to break or develop, then you will need to persevere and be disciplined for a little while. Doing it with someone else can add motivation.

Let me end by quoting again from J.C. Ryle’s book, ‘Thoughts for Young Men’. Here he details the importance of recognising the power of sinful habits in our lives:

“What young men will be, in all probability, depends on what they are now. Why do I say all this? I say it because habits are hard to break. . .  Habits have long roots. If sin is allowed to make its home in your heart, it will not be evicted at your command. Habit becomes second nature; and its chains are like “a threefold cord (which) is not quickly broken.” . . . Habits, like trees, are strengthened by age. A child can bend an oak when it is still a young sapling; but a hundred men cannot root it up when it is a full-grown tree. . . Habits of good or habits of evil are growing stronger in your heart each day. Every day you are either getting nearer to God, or further away. Every year that you continue to be unrepentant, the wall of division between you and heaven becomes higher and thicker; the gulf to be crossed becomes deeper and broader. Be afraid of the hardening effect of lingering in sin day after day! Now is the time to do something about it.”

                                                         J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men

God bless you

James