Habits of the Heart
“Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. " (C.S. Lewis)
And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. (2Corinthians 3:18)
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about habits, not just the physical kind but, the heart kind as well. My dismay is not just over how difficult it is to develop good habits, but how back-breaking it can be to extinguish bad ones as well! Making and breaking habits is hard work! Yet, the whole of our days is comprised of habits, good and bad, big and small — each one adding up to the kind of life we live and the kind of person we are becoming.
In fact, habits not only govern our physical health, but our moods, energy, and attitudes as well.
This tends to make sense to us in terms of physical habits like exercise, eating well, and healthy patterns of living. But, what about the habits of the heart? The heart has patterns of feeling, thinking and reacting. There are countless things that form these habits, but none more profoundly than our own daily choices. When you are offended, for example, is your heart-habit to forgive? Do you hold grudges and lick your wounds? If you’ll notice, there is a heart pattern within you that prompts you toward one thing or another. Maybe you are burdened with the heart-habit of being critical or self-absorbed? Being negative, expecting the worst, losing your temper, or dwelling on sad things can all become heart habits. It is sobering to consider that every day, we either cooperate with the formation of sour SOUL habits or we look to God for help to do something different!
Each choice, each thought, each action is soul forming! In other words, like C.S Lewis writes, there is a kind of creature being shaped each day, one that either resembles our Savior more and more or one that doesn’t!
Spending time with God empowers us to form good habits and live as new creatures in Christ! He invites us to notice His presence in the day and learn from Him. The Holy Spirit is a willing teacher and the tried and tested Christian practices put us in His good company! Reading the Word, for example, is a habit that renews and shapes our thinking. Silence, solitude, and stillness invite us to quiet places where we can slow down, listen to God, and discern His movements in our lives.
Learning to pay attention to God in the middle of life, whether working or worshipping, is transformative!
Living "awake" and engaged with God creates His heart in us and turns "the central part of ourselves into something a little different from what it was before” — into people who look a little more like Jesus.
"Father, I want to be more like Jesus! Please draw me into daily awareness that Your Spirit lives within me and lead me into sacred pauses that open my heart and mind to You. Help me to learn from you as I spend time with You. Amen."
What about you?
Have you ever considered that the choices you make are shaping your soul?
What are the habits of your heart? Are you aware of what comes most naturally and does it remind you of Jesus?
Is the fruit of the Spirit becoming second nature?
Are you becoming more like Jesus?
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