June 21, 2017

"And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you." Romans 12:1-2

Michael Frost writes in "Surprise the World", "The links between our (inner) spirituality and our (outward) action are far greater that man believe. In fact, Jesus and the New Testament writers saw a powerful integration of faith and action, so much so that they found it impossible to separate them. In fact, to separate a person from his or her actions can be very dangerous."

Swiss psychiatrist, Carl once said, "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do."

As Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."

If you transfer that concept to faith. You can make the case that faith is not an act, a single choice, or even a system of belief; it is a habit!

Habits are hard to change because they are hardwired into the default setting that is our sinful nature. The selfish attitudes, appetites and actions that arise from the evil nature lend themselves to habitual and harmful tendencies.

Habits are connected to our emotions, our desires and our needs. Those connections give habits a powerful hold on us. But since our sinful nature is self-destructive and habits are connected to the sinful nature it is clear to see why habits can be destructive.

In the Scripture reference above, Paul shares the powerful news with the Christians in Rome that God in Christ has changed their hearts. God through the Holy Spirit is transforming their minds. Now it is up to them to draw on their relationship with Christ to help them change their habits.

The Bible is clear that God does what only He can do by changing your heart but He also expects you to do what only you can do and change your habits.

Since your heart is changed and your mind renewed what are you doing to change your habits?

What are you doing to make sure your habits reflect the changes that have happened in your heart?

What do you need to do?

When will you do it?

What are you waiting for?

Who will you choose to hold you accountable?