Our church April series "Habitudes". It includes our worship, word of God, witness and walk with God.
The habit that i will explain comes from the Latin “habitus” meaning “condition or appearance”.
According to' Webster dictionary a "habit" is:
: a usual way of behaving :something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way
: a strong need to use a drug, to smoke cigarettes, etc.
What triggers our habits?
Our secret habits demonstrate a great deal about the real condition or state of us as people. They often show us something of what is actually going on in our hearts and minds. They also give us an idea of what we fear or worry about.
A bad habit is a regular tendency or practice that has become almost involuntary. (In other words, when we say, “I don’t like it, but I can’t help it!”)
A habit as a behavior that is detrimental to our physical or mental health – and something that robs us of peace. A bad habit isn’t always the same as an addiction – although it can definitely be a gateway to one.
David is aware of his own sin with Bathsheba and is crying out to God for mercy, forgiveness and help. We all need to feel reconnection with God and with people after we have done something wrong or been through a difficult circumstance. But if we don’t find that bond, we will try and comfort ourselves with something else – anything else – to numb the pain. Our addictions are normally a way of diverting and soothing ourselves. Bad habits can form when we are seeking deep connection but somehow, don’t find it. In this Psalm 51 David is asking for God to stay close to him in his crisis. This is wise! Verse 10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”This is a powerful prayer.
Many of our issues,problems, addictions and habits are birthed in a time of lonely trauma. We humans go to great lengths to avoid pain, and will try lots of different things to anaesthetize ourselves from it. Overspending, misusing alcohol or food, entertainment, prescription pills, going back to our old self and all manner of things are readily available to us as ways to evade hurt or hide from our problems. Sometimes circumstances happen just beyond the reach of our fingers. Sometimes God steps in and changes our direction. When we find ourself in a vulnerable position there are two very distinct attitudes we can take. The first is, "poor old me!" The second is trusting that God can turn any situation into good. Faith is trusting in God to have a purpose for every lesson He teaches us. Our direction may take a path that we don't want. But He knows better and will bring us through it.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Psalms 51:1-4, 6-13, 15-17 ESV
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:22-24, 26-30, 32 ESV
