Make it a Habit
by Jackie Ricks
When I taught math in school, one of the things that bothered me the most was when students did not retain the information or the ability to do problems with processes they had previously “learned.” Thanks to one veteran teacher and others who did an in-service, I learned how to correct that problem (at least with some students!). As the teacher and the other group pointed out, we humans tend to forget something that we don’t continue to use on a regular basis. During the in-service, they likened it to a person walking a grassy path. That person could walk the same path thirty times in one day, but by the next day or a few days later, there would not be a noticeable path there. However, if the person walked the same path every day for thirty days, it soon would be a noticeable path, not just grass. The path would remain as long as the person continued to walk daily.
How does this relate to us as Christians? As Cindy pointed out in a recent blog, we must have consistent faith in God. The more we rely on Him, the easier it is to continue and to make it through life. The same goes for reading and studying the Bible. We must be consistent and do it regularly. Similarly, if we witness several times in a day or even in one week, that’s good. But will we stay proficient in witnessing if we don’t continue doing it regularly?
I am currently reading a book called Do It for a Day: How to Make or Break Any Habit in 30 Days. Whatever you want to do, make it measurable, meaningful and maintainable. Read a certain number of chapters or for a certain amount of time daily. Purpose to witness to a certain person or decide to visit a shut-in weekly. Volunteer to work in the nursery once a month. It may help to write down what you want to do and read it daily to keep it on your mind.
So how did this work in math? I continued to do short “timed tests” on various basic skills on a regular basis. This could work in church as well. I remember growing up, we had to learn the books of the Bible, and we had “sword drills” regularly to practice finding scriptures. It was fun and kept our skill in finding scripture. Back then, we also had “training service” where we gave “parts” and learned to talk in front of others about Jesus and the Bible. It also helps our sharing skills if you have a visitation program. Now church seems more of a spectator “sport” rather than a participation “sport.”
The veteran teacher taught me not to teach a certain skill and then ignore it until the final test. I learned to test all learned skills on a weekly basis. We should apply that in our spiritual lives as well. Just because we memorized a scripture once, we shouldn’t forget to continue to recall it. Or if we’re teaching a children’s lesson on David and Goliath, go back and read the Bible passage again. Don’t assume we’ll remember everything about it. Similarly, we must continually consider what God has done for us so that we may keep our testimony fresh on our minds. We should cultivate habits that benefit and encourage our witnessing to others.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalms 34:1; Acts 6:4; 1Thessalonians 5:17
PRAYER: “Lord, Thank You that You help me to form good habits and keep me from forming harmful habits. Help me, Lord, to remember to continue the good habits that I do have and to stop the habits that I shouldn’t have. Especially help me to remember to share Your love with others when I have a chance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
RESPONSE: Consider what you do now and what you should do for the Lord. Cultivate at least one new habit that will help you share God’s love with others.
