Establishing Your Habits

Which type of habits do you have more of: good or bad?

Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul’s letters to the Philippians, addressed a few of the problems of the church in Rome and Philippi. For the purposes of today’s prayer breakfast, I want you to think of you and your personal relationships as the church Much of what Paul referred to in the Romans and Philippians dealt with selfishness. Not boundaries or self preservation. But selfishness. Seeking things of self-increasing nature only. Do you the difference between selfish and self-care? Right.

So, Paul is reminding us of the importance of establishing good habits. Honorable - Distinction & Recognition. Just: Right or Righteous. Pure: Holy. Lovely: Beautiful. Commendable: praise or commended. Excellence: superiority.

We do that by holding on to the promises that God has for us. Living according to His promise. Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?”

God promised comfort in our trials (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). He has a plan, and one day we will be able to share the comfort we receive. God promised new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Salvation is the beginning of a brand-new existence. God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Whereas, in the Old Testament, Israel had the promise of physical blessing, the church today has been promised spiritual blessings “in the heavenly realms.” Our inheritance is reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). God promised to finish the work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). God does nothing in half measures. He started the work in us, and He will be sure to complete it. God promised peace when we pray (Philippians 4:6–7). His peace is protection. It will “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.” God promised to supply our needs (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19). Not that we get everything we want, but our needs will be taken care of. We are more valuable than the birds, and our Heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26).

Jesus promised abundant life to those who follow Him (John 10:10). Following Jesus brings us more spiritual fulfillment than we could have anticipated. We leave boring behind. Jesus promised eternal life to those who trust Him (John 4:14). The Good Shepherd also promised to hold us securely: “No one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Jesus promised His disciples power from on high (Acts 1:8). In this power, they “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6, ESV). Jesus promised that He will return for us (John 14:2–3). From then on, we will be with Him always. There are many more promises of God that could be listed. All of them find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the radiance of God’s glory” (Hebrews 1:3). “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Knowing that He has made these promises, we must now look to creating the habits to get us there. This is similar to college prepping and planning.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of developing habits that align with God's will. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul advises, "Train yourself for godliness. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." This passage highlights the necessity of spiritual discipline and the formation of habits that foster godliness. Positive Habits 1. Prayer and Meditation: Regular prayer is a foundational habit for believers. Daniel exemplifies this in Daniel 6:10, where he continues his practice of praying three times a day despite the threat of persecution. Jesus also modeled this habit, often withdrawing to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16). 2. Scripture Reading and Study: The Bereans were commended for their habit of examining the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). This practice is essential for spiritual growth and discernment. 3. Worship and Fellowship: Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers not to forsake assembling together, highlighting the importance of communal worship and fellowship as a habitual practice. 4. Generosity and Service: Acts 10:2describes Cornelius as a devout man who "gave generously to the people and prayed to God continually." Generosity and service are habits that reflect the character of Christ.