Golden

Author: Pastor Thomas G. Wilson
April 28, 2020
Acts 17:1-2 KJV ¹ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: ² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
 
Everyone has habits, from the important…such as brushing your teeth at a certain time during the day, to the profitable…such as reading your Bible every day, to the bad…such as grumbling and complaining every other hour.  In Acts 17 the phrase “…as his manner was…” refers to habitual behavior on the part of Paul.  The word “manner” in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is defined as  “Way of performing or executing.  Custom; habitual practice.”  A word we might use today is routine.  Creating a routine for yourself and changing your bad habits into good ones will allow you to be more productive and successful.  When you do things on a daily basis, you will become better at them and also more efficient as well.  Regularly doing your set tasks will become natural and allow you to get them done faster. The advantage of this is, you will have more time to focus on the things that matter.
 
So how can we change bad habits? Well, every habit you have, whether it’s positive or negative, follows the same three-step pattern. In Charles Duhigg’s book, The Power of Habit, he refers to three steps of forming habits:
 
1. Cue (or reminder) — The trigger that initiates the behavior
2. Routine — The actual behavior itself and the action you take
3. Reward — The benefit you receive from the action you take

As stated earlier, both good and bad habits follow this same pattern. Once you become aware of your habits and start to understand them, you have the ability to change them. Recognize the cues for why you do them, and then make a plan to change the routine in your life. Change takes time and is not easy, so keep in mind that it will take work; you have to keep striving toward it.  With patience and dedication, you can reshape any habit into what you want it to be. This process of change is most successful when you keep the same cue and same reward but replace the routine within the habit.  This is called the “Golden Rule” of habit reformation.
 
Philippians 3:12-13 ¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
 
Begin today.  Most people can readily pinpoint areas in which they need better habits.  The power of habit is huge, but changing regular routines and habits can’t happen overnight but the decision does.  Never try to make all the changes at once.  Follow the process and continuously work at it and eventually, you can make lasting changes. Take the time to evaluate your life and create habits that allow you to become the greatest and most successful version of yourself.
 
For further reading: Luke 4:14-20; Gal.5:16-25; Col.1:10; Ps.119:44, 56
 

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