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 Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 2:02 pm
This church meeting, I'm doing a long overdue topic on "bad habits" and it's a topic that can do everyone some good, even myself smile Bad habits can range from anything from slacking off on something we need to get done, interrupting others while talking, being selfish, being prideful, trying to one-up each other's stories with boasting, etc. There are so many bad habits out there and most if not all of them are based on a worldly mindset. For example, if we have something we need to get done by Monday and it's currently Thursday, we will think, "Oh, I have plenty of time to get that done! Don't worry about it!" even though it's possible there may not be a tomorrow. We also do what we want to do, but when Sunday night rolls around or Monday morning, we're panicking to get everything done. In turn, we're exhausting ourselves and always in a rush. Even some habits that are "good habits" can transform into bad habits. For example, if we have a habit of cleaning our home and making sure everything is spotless it's a good habit so the house isn't dirty. However, this good habit can be a bad habit if it takes over our daily lives and we can't stop cleaning because there's always a mess - it can easily turn into an excuse to not spend time with God. Sometimes we use our good habits to make an excuse not to spend our daily time with God. For example, one might say, "Oh, I have a homework assignment today so I can't read my Bible...I have a ton of work," or, "I'm waiting in the hospital for someone to get out of surgery or so I can visit them so I don't have the time today to read my Bible." God's word needs to come first in our lives. We need to make a habit of making God the absolute center of our lives! This means spending time with God daily through reading His word, praying to Him, talking to Him, and involving Him in everything we do! Some people out there who have tried to change habits about themselves find that they are in a rut sometimes because they have so many habits they need to change. At a point, I had been told my bad habits such as interrupting others while they are talking in order to get my point in because I don't want to wait because I might forget, being selfish, being manipulative, repeating myself constantly, complaining, being too negative, having lower self-esteem, having social anxiety, getting angry or upset for no reason, taking everything personally, etc. I was in such a rut here because I thought, "Wow, I have a lot to change. I'll start with not being so negative." So then, I concentrated on being positive and smiling a bit more and then someone would get onto me that I was being selfish. I would get upset because I couldn't work on everything at once and that they'd have to wait. My plan of "one thing at a time" wasn't working at all - especially since I had annoyed people so much with my behaviors. I started watching a lot of sermons on bad habits and reading articles about bad habits. Some of them gave some good insight. A lot of them mentioned "put God first" and to "ask God to lend you strength because He can help". I was praying about changing my habits, but realized it needed to be a daily thing as well as reading His word and involving Him in what I do as well as doing the best I possibly can through the strength God gave me. I've gotten better - I may make a few mistakes here and there, but have changed some habits significantly. The hardest thing is not to fall back in those old habits. Bad habits are a war that Satan wants to win against you. When you fail to change them, Satan wants you to feel so miserable inside that you stop trying. I remember when I tried to change and I would fail and people would get upset and say, "You were doing so well; now you are worse than when you started. What happened?" and I would beat myself up for it instead of forgiving myself because I disappointed people around me. I had to think, "Satan is probably loving this right now. I'm broken inside, feel I can't change and that I'll never be good enough for anybody. Satan is smiling right now." And I made a decision, "I cannot let Satan win this war." It's so difficult to change when Satan puts everything in your path to revert back to what you were before changing your old habits. The only power in this universe that can help keep us out of bad habits is God. If you do fail to change a bad habit or habits, you can ask God for forgiveness, for Him to lend you strength, and keep going! Don't stop trying to change if it's for God's will and for the better! Jesus didn't die for us so that we could live a life of dwelling over our bad habits, feeling bad about them, and giving a possible negative impression to others. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now what does the Bible say about changing ourselves and living according to His will?Romans 12:2 NIV:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ephesins 4:22 - 24 NIV:
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
1 John 1:9 NIV:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 Peter 5:7 NIV:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.We will never be able to change our bad habits into good habits unless we consult God daily and do His will in our lives. His will for people isn't to dwell in their bad habits, but to change and to be transformed for His glory! If you have a bad habit or many bad habits in your life today - focus by making God the center of everything! Everytime you need to get something done, but that computer, tv, or group of friends is saying, "I'm more fun!" don't even turn on the computer or tv and tell the friends, "I will have to see you later." because Satan wants us to slack. He wants us to be distracted from God in any way he possibly can. I know that at times I will say to myself, "I'm going to read God's word after I take my shower this morning." Many times, I will take a shower and then head straight to reading God's word. However, this isn't always easy because sometimes I think, "Well, I should clean up a little first." or, "I should check my e-mail and gaia and then I will read God's word." I know if I don't read God's word after my morning shower and go onto doing something else...chances are slim that I will read his word at all during the day because I'll get even more distracted. Do not allow anything to distract you from spending time with God! If there is something that does that you have to go to such as work, class, etc. make sure to plan a time to read God's word and keep a pocket Bible with you if you need to so that you can read it on a break. There is always a way to spend time with God - we only must make that time for Him.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 1:48 pm
This post is so true. I've noticed in my life in particular, that bad habits go away once you saturate yourself with God. Or better yet, replace bad habits with godly ones so you are far less likely to practice the bad habit that ensnares you. One thing I do now is dedicate the first hour of my day to God. While I'm walking to work or before work, I put on a sermon. Then, until I start work I listen to worship music. This way, I'm not focused on how much I don't like my job, or other life concerns. I particularly enjoy the Hillsong station on Pandora radio. I got into Hillsong after hearing "MIghty to Save". "All I need is You" is another good one too. The day goes so much better when you replace bad habits with Him!
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7-8 KJV.
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Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 4:53 pm
Ohana_Okazaki This post is so true. I've noticed in my life in particular, that bad habits go away once you saturate yourself with God. Or better yet, replace bad habits with godly ones so you are far less likely to practice the bad habit that ensnares you. One thing I do now is dedicate the first hour of my day to God. While I'm walking to work or before work, I put on a sermon. Then, until I start work I listen to worship music. This way, I'm not focused on how much I don't like my job, or other life concerns. I particularly enjoy the Hillsong station on Pandora radio. I got into Hillsong after hearing "MIghty to Save". "All I need is You" is another good one too. The day goes so much better when you replace bad habits with Him! "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7-8 KJV. The day is indeed better when the day is started off with God smile
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:28 pm
Ohana_Okazaki This post is so true. I've noticed in my life in particular, that bad habits go away once you saturate yourself with God. Or better yet, replace bad habits with godly ones so you are far less likely to practice the bad habit that ensnares you. One thing I do now is dedicate the first hour of my day to God. While I'm walking to work or before work, I put on a sermon. Then, until I start work I listen to worship music. This way, I'm not focused on how much I don't like my job, or other life concerns. I particularly enjoy the Hillsong station on Pandora radio. I got into Hillsong after hearing "MIghty to Save". "All I need is You" is another good one too. The day goes so much better when you replace bad habits with Him! "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:7-8 KJV.
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:37 pm
I'm not really sure how to reply to this because they were all excellent points, Aqua. I'm sorry I haven't been as active in this guild as of late. I've been super busy with final projects that I just finished, so I'll be more active again smile
I do usually make excuses to read my Bible. I usually do it after my shower as well, ironically XD but the other day, I was running late for work, so I skipped my devotionals. and whenever I sleep in, like today, often times I won't read my devotionals until I remember sometime in the late evening, if I remember at all. I think my worse habit is getting up late. If I get up late, I don't shower, and thus don't read His Word. I'll keep making efforts though. this summer I have to go to work early in the morning, so if I have to get up early, I will, and will have time to read. Hopefully that will keep my internal clock on a good schedule so I can keep a good habit of having time to spend time with Him.
Another of my bad habits is not praying. For awhile there I was really good at it, but lately I drop off again. I think it'd help if I prayed directly after my devotionals. I usually try to, but I feel distracted when I do. It'll be a challenge to be more focused, but I think I can do it smile Thanks for another great church meeting!
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 11:17 pm
x XBliss Wasnt EnoughX x I'm not really sure how to reply to this because they were all excellent points, Aqua. I'm sorry I haven't been as active in this guild as of late. I've been super busy with final projects that I just finished, so I'll be more active again smile
I do usually make excuses to read my Bible. I usually do it after my shower as well, ironically XD but the other day, I was running late for work, so I skipped my devotionals. and whenever I sleep in, like today, often times I won't read my devotionals until I remember sometime in the late evening, if I remember at all. I think my worse habit is getting up late. If I get up late, I don't shower, and thus don't read His Word. I'll keep making efforts though. this summer I have to go to work early in the morning, so if I have to get up early, I will, and will have time to read. Hopefully that will keep my internal clock on a good schedule so I can keep a good habit of having time to spend time with Him.
Another of my bad habits is not praying. For awhile there I was really good at it, but lately I drop off again. I think it'd help if I prayed directly after my devotionals. I usually try to, but I feel distracted when I do. It'll be a challenge to be more focused, but I think I can do it smile Thanks for another great church meeting! No worries =) life can be busy and when you have free time, you can come by to chat. That's great! The sooner to make a good schedule in order to read God's word as well as do what we need to do in the day, the better! Hopefully you'll be able to get your schedule on track so it'll be a lot better as far as reading God's word in the morning, as well as better for your health. The great thing about prayer is we can do it anywhere! Literally! I've had points where I'd slack on prayer and not pray at all. My worst habit concerning prayer is not praying for my meals. Generally, the only time that people around me would pray for their meal if it was a church gathering, or if it was Thanksgiving dinner. It was my husband that got me back into it and made sure I work on that. Although, when I'm alone - I generally forget. Although, praying about other things - my mind is prayer mania. I pray a lot. If I'm in a scary situation or in an uncomfortable situation, I start praying in my mind - along with a lot of other different situations, even if it's a happy one. Prayer is something that I love to do. It keeps my mind busy and there's always something/someone to pray for! Sometimes I kinda laugh inside when I can be around someone who is an atheist and in my mind, pray for them, while I'm sitting in the same room as them because I'm praying in my mind for them. So they won't know and can't be offended. With prayer, it works to make it a habit and it's a good habit =] Yeah, in the morning, I feel so icky a lot of the time so I usually brush teeth, get a shower, and then read God's word. I noticed how I read God's word every day for a couple weeks in a row and people seemed to notice a change in my attitude. Then a week later, I didn't read at all (this was not an experiment on purpose, I was slacking again), and people noticed my behavior had gotten worse. I thought, "Wow, how am I getting worse? I've been reading God's word!" then I thought harder, "Wait, this past week...I haven't read Gods word at all. Reading God's word truly makes a difference in our attitudes because our soul is fed and that's a good feeling!" So I'm trying even harder to maintain a Bible reading routine! I'm not sure about anyone else, but at times I get this feeling where it feels like my soul is hungry. It feels like there's a gap...like I feel the need to read God's word. If I stop what I'm doing at the time if I'm able and read God's word - I feel inside that it's what my soul truly needed. Our souls aren't only hungry in the morning, they can be hungry at many other points in the day. There are probably times we need to read The Holy Bible more than once a day. I remember reading in the morning before and I felt like I needed to read more and I read and felt more fulfilled. I remember when I started reading The Holy Bible. I had started truly reading it for the first time and studying and I felt like I had been starving for years - I just wanted to catch up on it all at once. I would read for hours for a while. If I would skip a day of reading, I would feel that my day had literally been wasted because God's word wasn't part of it. Sometimes, how I describe The Holy Bible is my anti-drug, and sometimes rather my fix for the day because in the day - when I read a chapter or two or even a verse that truly hits home, I will generally feel at peace with myself. I feel whole like I have fulfilled my duty for that point in time.
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Posted: Mon May 13, 2013 4:50 pm
I love Hillsong United. They have such great songs. My favorite is 'The Stand' Have you heard it?
I don't think I have until you just mentioned it. I popped it into YouTube and it was a very good song! I've just been recently getting into praise bands like Hillsong and Jesus Culture. My church plays baptist music, so I don't really know a lot of other styles of praise. But Jesus Culture's "Break Every Chain" was just covered by a black gospel artist and had gained popularity, so people in my church sing it. I like Jesus Culture's version better and their version of "Revelation Song' makes it SO much easier to sing! Kari Jobe's version is great (and honestly easier to play on my baritone ukulele), but I'm not a soprano so those notes are hard to it.
And as a side note, the way I test to see if my students will like a song, is that I'll sing and play it while they color. If they try to sing with me, they like it. Since my group is so young, a lot of songs I like they won't really catch on to because it's too wordy or the concept is hard to get. But I'll keep trying!
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