Shaping Our Habits

"We shape our habits; then our habits shape us," says Rick Warren.  Every morning when I look in the mirror I am reminded of this "shaping" factor.  In fact one wife said to her husband recently,  "Honey, I want you to get in shape!"  He replied abruptly, "Round is a shape!"  That was not exactly the shape that his wife was suggesting.

Habits are a creature within themselves that needs to be mastered, but we cannot do it alone.  Habits are something we all have, good and bad.  Our habits often change, like changing clothing.  In fact, Hal Urban states, "The original meaning of habit was 'garment' or 'piece of clothing.'  As with garments we wear our habits daily."  What habits have you been wearing lately?

God's Word tells us why we ought to shape our habits:

"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come" (I Timothy 4:8 NLT.)

 God's Word tells us how we ought to shape our habits:

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect" (Romans 12:2NLT). 

 God's Word instructs us to:

"...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8b).

Bad habits are like unwashed clothing, they are noticeable to those around you before they are noticeable to you.  Are there habits in your life today that you need to change, delete, or adjust?

Let the habits that you have, shape you into a shape that best resembles Christ.