It's difficult to start a new week after a holiday, isn't it? It's hard to get back into the swing of things after having a few days off to celebrate and relax.
I had every intention of putting up a post yesterday, but…well, I didn't back into my regular schedule either!
I guess that's one of the reasons it's so important to make good habits that encourage our inner man.
While it's true that our spiritual "activities" can sometimes become routine and dull and lifeless, it is also true that those spiritual habits can be the tool God uses to keep us on track.
It is not always easy to attend church. However, when we keep that habit in place, we find ourselves attending when we are not our most "spiritually minded".
There we find
- the truth that we need to hear,
- the reminders of all the Lord has done for us,
- fellowship to feed our soul and
- music to sooth our frazzled minds.
It's a good "habit".
Another important practice to keep in our schedules is to read God's Word. Things will happen to interrupt our regularly scheduled reading times; but we must be adamant in finding that time at another place in our routine.
If we miss a day in God's Word, it is not good; but if we find ourselves skipping many days without meditating on the Scriptures, we are starving ourselves spiritually.
This "habit" must be one that we work to keep in its place.
Another routine that we must cultivate is to have a thankful spirit.
- Did you spend extra time last week counting your blessings?
- Did you find that it helped your mindset?
- Were you quicker to find the positive side of things because of your attitude of gratitude?
This week have you continued that spirit of thankfulness? We need to focus on thanking God for the situations in our life every day.
It keeps us focused on the fact that God has a plan for us, and is in control of our lives on a daily basis. I don't know about you, but that helps me even in the hardest times.
Thankfulness is a "habit" to practice all year round.
As we get back into the routine of our lives, especially as we look forward to a season of busyness as we prepare for Christmas, be sure to make time for the "habits" that will keep you balanced, sane and a pleasure to be around.
- Read the Bible daily.
- Attend church whenever physically possible.
- Practice an attitude of thankfulness every day.
These "habits" will ground our lives spiritually, and that gives us a solid foundation for the mundane as well.
Find hope today in the same old routine! Just be sure it includes these important "habits".
Obtaining Mercy 