A Habit Worth Keeping

I have some horrible habits. These habits have surpassed the bad label and are awarded the merit of horrible. Grotesque really. One such habit leaves me with poor excuses for thumbs. I somehow acquired the habit of thinking my thumb skin is a nutritious snack. I chew on it, pull on it, and bite it off until it bleeds. My thumbs no longer have thumbprints. All that is left is a smooth callused red surface. I know, it’s sick, right? You think it would hurt. You think I would want to stop. But no, as I sit here and write, I pause momentarily to take one more bite of my tormented cuticles.

That’s just my physical habit. Once again, on my quest to live transparently, I am going to admit to you one of my “inside” habits. I have the downright malicious habit of worry. I worry about every.little.thing. I worry about my job. I worry about if I will ever have kids. I worry about money. I worry about getting a gap in my teeth. I worry. Period. Even after I have seen the benefits that can come from laying all my worry down at the feet of Christ, I still worry. I’m a creature of habit. Bad habits.

When we discuss habits, we generally always put the spotlight on bad habits. We seem to forget that some habits are really quite good. Eating healthy is a good habit. Mind you, I lack in that habit big time. Exercising is a good habit. It pains me to say that! However, really think about this one. Although those 2 habits I just mentioned are considered good by the world’s standards, they can easily become bad if you do them with the wrong intention. When you are consumed with eating healthy or exercising because you are vain, then in my opinion it’s a bad habit. I think it is vital to ask yourself, when it comes to your habits, albeit, good or bad, what are your intentions?

When I worry, it is my intention to say to myself, “I’m in control and by worrying I somehow can change my circumstances.” I’m dead wrong. When we begin to realize that we need to turn it all over to God, ALL, not some, we then realize that our habits can go in the right direction. They can be healthy and done with a purpose. I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want to live a meaningless life. I feel that if I develop better habits, my life will reap the benefits. I’ve seen it happen before.

I was reminded tonight by good ‘ol Max Lucado that there are 4 essential habits that are healthy. Four habits that I lack. I don’t talk to God enough. I don’t study the Bible enough. I don’t give enough. I don’t fellowship enough.

It takes 21 days to start a habit. 3 weeks.  I better get busy.