Break the Habit

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to slip back into old habits? Usually bad habits. I need to set my alarm just out of reach so that when it goes off I get out of bed to turn it off. If I don't do that, I tend to just sort of roll over and turn it off without being fully conscience and getting out of bed. If I get lazy and move the clock closer. I wake up late and rushing to get to work. Spiritually, it is easy to forget what we first learned when we came to Christ.  

"Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:21-24

Often when we first come to Christ our lives are in a crisis and we realize the need to completely repent and change our way of doing things. We realize that nearly every desire we have is rooted in deception and we are  hyper-sensitive to checking our motives. Which is a good thing. The reformers called the fact that sin affects every area of our beings (mind, body and spirit) total depravity. When you first come to Christ you know you need to cast off the old self and put on the new and you strive to be righteous and holy. 

I think it was John Melencamp who had a song that went something like, "Oh, oh, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone." I have this old friend who you to say, "Oh, oh, Christianity goes on, long after the thrill of salvation is gone." He would say that to people who were experiencing the reality of life. You can't live life always on a high. Sometimes there are lows. We start going threw the motions and forget that God's love is new every morning. 

Here's the can do: You can remember to daily make new the attitude of your mind. You can seek to act righteously and in holiness. 

Father, help us to renew our attitudes by seeking to love other as you have loved us. Help us to act in righteousness and holiness. Praise be to you in us today!