Since the time we mature or are able to understand, we often hear the terms routine or habit?? Making a few things as habit is a good thing. Yet on the other hand some things become bad habits. Let us see three good habits:
- Prayer: Every religious denominations says the prayer in their own ways. In several Hindu homes we can see there is a puja room. In truth, it is a welcoming sight. In our homes we have a dining room/area, bedroom, living room/TV room. When a guest comes visiting we receive him/her with such aplomb. But do you have a permanent place or atmosphere for prayer to receive??? When we sit together for family prayer, we should remember the promise made by Jesus Matthew 18: 20, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Our Saviour is true to His words; First, He is part of us when we sit together for family prayer; Second, He desires that we come together in His name; Third, we should pray in His name, John 14: 13-14, 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
2. Jesus used to pray before every duty: Luke 22: 39-46, 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Similarly in Luke 6:12-13, 12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles.
Have we made this a habit? Do we pray to our Lord before the start of every duty??? A heartfelt prayer said from the bottom of the heart can make miracles. We can see the difference between those who trust their own potential and those who leave the results in the hands of the Lord, Luke 5: 5-6, 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
3. Worship, Confession, Holy Communion: The fourth commandment was the observe the Sabbath as holy/sacred. But some do not observe it seriously or follow it wholeheartedly. Nowadays, it can be seen that people attend worship as a routine or do not attend out of boredom. To attend the worship on Sunday, we prepare ourselves through the week. Those regularly confess their sins and partake in the Holy Communion receive the opportunity to return to the Heavenly Father just like the prodigal son returned to his father. John 16:8, 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom, said the thief on the cross. Jesus replies, 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief received salvation when he accepted his faults before the Lord and shows us the way that a true confession is the road to deliverance and salvation.
Forgetting the presence of our Lord, attending the Holy worship service without purpose or attention, talking between the service and gossiping, sleeping/yawning, and attending without prior preparation just a word of advice for them: just attending the worship service does not mean you are abiding by the fourth law of keeping Sabbath sacred. The above said habits are equivalent to violating the law, are a cause of God’s ire and hence needs to be avoided or corrected.
4.Reading the Bible: Just as food provides nutrition to the body, the word of God provides nutrition to the soul. If made a habit, this can help protect our souls just as a vitamin protects the body. It protects from diseases of the soul. If one applies the word of God to his/her personal life, then remember that we walk together in His presence. 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
During childhood each parent should train them right and wrong through Bible stories. 2 Thessalonians 1: 10, 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. Jesus used parables to make people understand the deeper essence of things He spoke about. The word of God is the guide in our life. Proverbs 16:20, Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. And in Psalms 19: 8-10,
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
Jesus defeated Satan and He used the words of God, Matthew 4,
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”
The first teacher for any child is the mother, prayer, bible stories like David & Goliath, Daniel, Joseph, Samuel, Jesus feeds thousands, Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, etc are some that teach values. May the children grow in stature ans in grace of God with the seed of faith taking deep roots within them. May our children know and believe in Jesus. Let the word of God be the beacon for every family.
Hebrews 4:12, 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Jehovah Roi 