Choose Your Habits Before They Choose You

Eating at my desk has become a habit for me, to the point that my team knows what time breakfast is served. 

I’d like to blame Greg.

Each morning about 9:30 AM, Greg delivers a beautiful plate of eggs with an English muffin and some fruit. It comes complete with a big glass of ice water, silverware wrapped in a napkin and a warm smile of affection. (hard to resist) 

But, it’s not just breakfast, I eat lunch and sometimes even dinner at my desk.

I know it’s not a healthy choice, but I just keep doing it. I can’t seem to break the habit. 

Paul wrote of the same frustration in Romans 7:18-20 (MSG) 

I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

How do we take control of our habits?

Is it possible to take control of our habits? After all, isn’t a habit something we can’t control or is that just what we tell ourselves to avoid taking responsibility for our own behavior? 

Habits form by repeating a behavior to the point that it becomes automatic. The thought process behind the behavior goes unnoticed, as if it’s not there. 

Eventually, we start to believe we have no choice and we are no longer in control or responsible for our behavior. 

Change is possible. The truth sets us free to make the change!

HABIT BELIEF - Eating at my desk will improve my productivity, prevent me from missing something important, shorten my work hours. Greg is serving breakfast at my desk so I can work more.

HABIT REALITY – Eating at my desk made me less productive and less motivated. It didn’t shorten my work hours at all. 

TRUTH – Greg serves me breakfast because he loves me.

NEW HABIT – Schedule a break for breakfast with Greg. 

REWARD -  Taking time to show Greg how much I love and appreciate him increases our love for each other. I return to work more energized. I’m more productive. 

(Revealed through prayer and the Holy Spirit)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Here’s a couple sharing breakfast before heading off to work. They might as well be in different worlds. They are completely disconnected from each other. They have chosen to give their attention to their electronic devices rather than each other. It’s just a habit, not intentional. 

 Same couple, only in this picture they have chosen to give their attention to each other. The smile on his face tells it all! WOW, what a difference. 

Bad habits develop over time. It takes time to create new habits too. It may take several attempts - little steps. Don't give up. Remember, you have a helper.

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in choosing good behaviors and making them into habits. 

Romans 12:2  (MSG)

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. 

We are here to support you in making changes to grow spiritually too. Check out www.spiritualseedsplanner.com for tools and ideas for living a Spirit Filled Life.

Gardening Tip: Choose a new habit that brings joy to others

Good God,

Renew our minds each day, that we will not be conformed to the ways of this world but will continue to grow in your likeness.