Old Habits Die Hard
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”1
Do you ever feel like you’re on repeat? Maybe you don’t even realize that you are. Maybe you get up every morning at the same time or start your day with the same coffee in the same cup. We all have habits: things we do so often we don’t even realize we’re doing them! Even Jesus had habits. He spent time talking to God in prayer. He showed love and practiced kindness. He walked and talked with His friends and encouraged them to adopt His habits too. Jesus extends this invitation to us today.
Jesus had certain places that were important to Him as well; places where He spent His quiet time, places He found peace. Finding a safe space is important to cultivating healthy spiritual habits — habits that won’t easily die out. It is important that we become aware of our habits for they shape us and we become what we do. Routine habits like setting an alarm or brewing coffee may not be harmful, but what if we included a five-minute Scripture reading? That daily habit has just become time with the Savior! Maybe you’ve been trying to break a bad habit. The best way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. What good habits can you copy from Jesus? Do you need to start spending time talking to God? Could we be more kind and loving to others?
Jesus’ habits eventually led Him to the cross. Not everyone thought His habits were beneficial. But Jesus showed the world that His Eternal habits would die hard— in fact, they didn’t die at all! Jesus did not stay in the grave and He’s alive today so that we can change our old habits into new, Christ-like ones — habits that die hard!
Suggested Prayer: Dear Lord, teach me to be more like you. Give me a heart like yours and show me how to live a life that honors you in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1. Luke 22:39-40 (ESV).
Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.