Follow: Life-Giving HabitsSample

Relational Habits Part 1

Who do you want to become? 

Imagine yourself 10 or 20 years from now – who do want to be then? What kind of person, or what kind of Jesus follower would you like to be then?

We have all met people in our lives, and thought to ourselves “one day I want to be like him, or her”. Spiritually, who is that person for you? Your “spiritual hero”?

I knew a man, Uncle Andy. He was a “spiritual giant”. He was a follower of Jesus and loved Jesus so much, it was contagious. I remember sitting over a cup of tea with him and my wife just chatting, about normal stuff, and afterward, my wife and I felt so excited about God that we almost just wanted to go have a quiet time with God right away. Have you ever been in conversation with someone that you got so excited that you became hungry for more of God? Imagine being so full of God, that it rubbed off on people. I want to become someone like that. I want to be like uncle Andy.

When uncle Andy stayed overnight, one of the first things he wanted to know is where he could have his “quiet time” the next morning. His time of reading the word and praying was his “quiet time” – but there was nothing quiet about it I presume. He was traveling – but his greatest concern was where he would spend time with the Lord the next morning. Daily time with God was a priority for Him. 

No wonder then that when you speak to Him, a love for Jesus rubs off on you. Not difficult to make the connection that the reason he was so full of God, was because he filled Himself with God each day. After meeting someone like uncle Andy, the song “Read your Bible and Pray every day… and you will grow, grow, grow” makes sense. It is as simple as that.

Let me ask you a question:

What do your spiritual habits look like? Or what do your relational habits look like? Reading your bible and praying daily is a relational habit and not a religious duty.

Here is the thing about habits: we become what we repeatedly do. James Clear (expert in habit-forming): What you repeatedly do ultimately forms the person you are… Your life today is essentially the sum of your habits. We become what we repeatedly do.

- If so, who are you becoming? Looking at your current approach of time with God – looking at your current habits, who will you have become in 10 years from today?

- If we only looked at your current habits of reading the Word and praying, not your intentions – just the reality – who will you become?

- Will you have become the spiritual giant you desire to become?

God’s greatest concern is who you are becoming. The Bible teaches us that God wants to conform you into the same image as His Son – Jesus. But in order for God to make you more and more like Jesus each day, you need to allow Him to do so… each day. 

Your daily devotion to reading your Bible; your daily devotion to prayer; will make you and change you into something truly beautiful. More like God.

What would it look like if you spent 30 minutes each day for the next 10 years reading the word, and speaking to Him?   

• Imagine the giant you will become.   
• Imagine the husband/wife you will become.   
• Imagine the parent you would be for your kids.   
• Imagine the depth of your relationship with God.

Why don’t you start with 30 minutes today?