Dear Ones,
We have lots of snow! It started yesterday afternoon and was still snowing when we went to bed. Al is preaching next door today and glad he doesn’t have to go out. I may not be going to Exercise class but Crafts is this afternoon as all I have to do is go downstairs. Bible study tonight if we don’t have more snow.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Don’t we all have habits in our lives that we want to change and let go, but find it difficult and make excuses for why it isn’t happening? Maybe we are divided and not as ready to change as we think we are, for it is rather painful to let go of old habits. We have to come to the place where we face ourselves, acknowledge the need for change and become tired enough of the way things are going to really want to change. We all probably fluctuate at first and find excuses to change another day, not now!  But we need to face up to our anger, pain, anxiety, and fears and remember the person we want to become enough to let go of the old habits.

Our habits reveal our character, and change involves our habits that are almost automatic, for we do them without thinking. When they are good habits, they give us freedom; bad habits may seem fun at the time, but in the long-run they are destructive. It is best to replace those bad habits with good ones that are aligned with our values. We might start by offering our habits to the Lord, and stacking one good habit on top of another, including some that bring joy. We might start with praising the Lord for the new day as we have our first cup of coffee for the day. At the close of our day, we may lay all of our burdens to rest and not be thinking of them through the night.

Let us ask God to show us where He wants to start in our lives, to give up those habits that seem to weigh us down and also compromise what we believe. Then let us not make excuses, but ask that He would give us His desires and that we would bring glory to Him. When we are angry and about to tell someone off, ask for grace to forgive the person that is hurting us. Or if we are facing temptation, ask the Lord to help us think His thoughts, and then take ourself out of a compromising situation. God’s ways bring peace and we will have more of His character as we quit making excuses and give up our bad habits. He says to each of us, “Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wonderous things that you could never figure out on your own.” (Jer. 33:3)

Challenge for today: Let the Lord lead you to give up old habits and establish new ones that will free your life and draw you closer to Him.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy