All of us have habits -
regularly repeated behaviors that shape our lives, for
better or for worse. The best habits are those that Jesus,
God incarnate, practiced during His time on Earth. Since He
designed life, He knew how to live it most effectively.
You can learn a lot from what
Jesus taught, but even more from practicing what He did.
The more you devote yourself to emulating Jesus' habits, the
more God will bless you.
Here's how you can make
Jesus' habits your own:
Practice seclusion.
Withdraw from everyday noise and demands on a daily basis to
spend some time with God, to connect with him and recharge
your emotional and spiritual batteries.
Practice prayer.
Choose to pray regularly; don't wait until you feel like
doing so. During prayer: praise God, thank God, confess your
sins to God, ask God for something on behalf of other
people, and present your personal requests to God.
Practice worship.
Focus on encountering God to: praise Him for who He is;
thank Him for what He has done; confess your sin; surrender
your mind, will, and emotions; offer him your total life;
obey what He tells you to do; ask Him to work in your life;
tell others of your love for Him; and experience new love
for Him and a new commitment to Him.
Practice building
relationships. Take the initiative to get to know
people well for the purpose of making an impact for Christ
as well as meeting your own need for relating to others.
Practice touch.
Affirm people in appropriate ways by touching them, such as
through a hug, handshake, or pat on the back. Every day, ask
God for the opportunity to touch someone who needs it.
Determine to be the hands of Christ wherever you go.
Practice
confrontation. Be willing to deal with another
person about an issue head-on, in a spirit of love and
truth, with your sole motive being to help that person.
Practice
challenging the status quo. In a spirit of love,
choose to challenge that which continues on as a tradition
but no longer serves a good purpose.
Practice listening.
Focus on what another person is saying with your ears, mind,
eyes, and body so that person feels valued by you.
Practice love.
Consistently choose to do something that is beneficial,
kind, and encouraging for another person before considering
your own needs. Be willing to be inconvenienced and to
sacrifice for the sake of others.
Practice
thankfulness. Decide to be grateful to God in any
situation - even when facing challenges. Believe that God
is greater than any circumstances you face.
Practice faith.
Choose to trust God and believe what He said in His Word,
the Bible - no matter what.
Practice motivation.
Believe that all things are possible with God, and put all
your resources (time, money, energy, etc.) to good use to
fulfill your highest potential in His kingdom. Through your
example, encourage other people to be and do their best.
Practice handling
criticism effectively. Respond to criticism with
love, truth, and humility. Demonstrate God's love and allow
Him to be your defense.
Practice making
family a priority. Consistently choose to put your
family and their needs ahead of your own needs, other
people, work, recreation, or anything else in life except
God.
Practice obedience.
Decide to act on God's will rather than your own. Strive to
discover God's will by reading the Bible and following the
Holy Spirit's leading when there is no clear word in
Scripture about what to do.
Practice honoring
the government. View the government as a
God-ordained institution that should be supported
voluntarily through good citizens obeying its laws.
Practice asking
questions. Ask certain things in order to gain
knowledge and understanding. Try to ask open-ended questions
as often as possible.
Practice having fun.
Enjoy life. Give yourself permission not to take things
seriously all the time. Make laughter part of your daily
routine.
Practice living by
the truth. Consistently decide to say what is
right, do what is right, and live within God's will.
Practice resting.
Relax your body on a regular basis through the right amount
of sleep at night and periodic breaks during the day.
Practice acting
like a man. If you're male - like Jesus - strive to
be physically strong, emotionally caring, mentally
expanding, and spiritually growing.
Practice esteeming
women. Choose to treat all women, at all times,
with the utmost dignity and respect they deserve.
Practice giving.
Embrace a lifestyle of offering yourself and your resources
(time, money, etc.) on behalf of others in the name of
Jesus.
Practice kindness.
Be sensitive, understanding, gentle, and compassionate to
everyone you meet.
Practice fitness.
Take care of your body through a combination of a healthy
diet and regular exercise.
Practice keeping
your word. Do what you say you will do. Let others
know they can count on you to follow through with what you
promise.
Practice
fellowshipping. Spend time with other Christians on
a regular basis for the purpose of enjoyment.
Practice using
Scripture. Study and apply the Bible to everyday
life situations, whether temptations, trials, or triumphs.
Practice living for
a purpose. Realize that serving God is your reason
for living. Strive to fulfill your purpose of making a
positive difference for Him in the world.
Practice fasting.
Choose to go without food for a specific time in order to
seek God and His will with more passion and intensity than
you could otherwise.
Practice using
money God's way. Use your money to support God's
kingdom, meet your needs and those of your family, and save
for the future. Follow biblical principles when making
decisions about money.
Adapted from The Jesus
Habits: Exercising the Spiritual Disciplines of Jesus
copyright 2005 by Jay Dennis. Published by Broadman & Holman
Publishers, Nashville, Tn.,
www.broadmanholman.com.
