I've been thinking lately about habits. You know, those things that are hard to form, and even harder to break. The phenomenon called habit is a powerful thing. When we have developed a habit that we're not happy with and we try to break it, to discontinue doing it, we find out how powerful the force of habit is. Then when we learn of something good that we'd like to develop into a regular habit, we find that it's almost as hard to form a habit as break one! (Of course, more than likely, the difficulty of forming one comes from an opposing one that needs to be broken at the same time.)

            We find this truth to be evident in all aspects of our lives, but I think it's especially relevant when we think about how we nurture our spiritual lives. Our spirits are being formed constantly, whether we realize it or not. The daily forces of the world around us are shaping our spirits. The work that we do, and the expectations of our employers shape our actions and form certain habits within us. Things that we do regularly begin to slowly change us or our perspectives, sometimes so subtly that we don't even notice it happening.

            Here's an example from my own life. I end up using the internet quite a bit in my work. Whether it's for sermon study, researching a topic, communicating with others in the congregation or around the world, I find the internet to be an invaluable resource. But here's what I've found has happened. The instant and limitless resources available through the internet have begun to form certain expectations within me, such as the one that I shouldn't have to wait for anything. If I want something, I should be able to get it immediately! The problem is, spiritual growth and lasting change happen slowly. And that's not a bad thing. Too often, immediate changes or radical shifts in the way we do something means a short-lived change, an effect that doesn't last.

            Here's where the power of habit comes in. To be able to effect long-lasting change and experience true growth spiritually requires certain old habits to be uprooted and certain new ones to be formed. Anything less will not bring lasting change. Experience has taught me this, in my own life and in the lives of those I've worked with pastorally. And it is this learned truth that has me convinced that spiritual practices are essential to spiritual growth. They are all about understanding the power of habit and harnessing it for the good of our spirits. Spiritual practices displace old habits in our lives with new ones. They become natural defenses against the subtle forces in the world around us that shape us subconsciously.

            Spiritual practices, such as the morning prayer I've invited us all to participate in, reorient our minds and our thoughts to see our daily lives from a different perspective, from the loving perspective of God. But it is exactly this current experiment of trying to incorporate this new practice that has again reminded me of how powerful habit is!   I believe the writer of the book of Hebrews was aware of this and is why he said in 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Even a practice as simple as meeting together regularly can change our lives! Setting aside a day a week for rest and renewal breaks unhealthy habits formed by our daily rhythms of work. Habits are exactly that easy and that difficult to form! Let's encourage each other to pay attention to our lives, and to harness the power of habit. And may our spirits grow!

Pastor Carl