I am a creature of habit. And not always good ones either. I have a few good habits, and many, many bad habits. I try to lessen them; but deed, habits are hard! In 1997 I felt such conviction over being a smoker and working with youth. I had been saved a little over a year. It was a monumental accomplishment on May 26th, 1997 when I stopped smoking. It had far less to do with me than it did to do with the Holy Spirit and prayer warriors. Ironically I share that anniversary date with my open heart surgery which occurred on May 26th, 2018.
Does God grow weary of our bad habits? I know I do. Poor eating habits have taken a great toll on my body. Poor spending habits have taken a great toll on my finances. There are consequences for stupidity. I know! I’ve got the scars. But if there are consequences for bad habits, there surely must be reward for good habit.
I began this study at the end of Jacob’s life. Jacob who (if you know scripture) you likely have read it again and again as it was in Exodus 2:24-25 when God mentions their names together…
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
God used Jacob mightily! But unfortunately, he is also remembered as being a liar. His name means deceiver. He stole his brother’s birthright. He was not a man of high moral character. But God seriously used him. That gives us all hope, does it not? I said that to show his habits were not always the greatest. Which I also find it very ironic that on his death bed, he called all of his sons together to tell them what they are habitually known for: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Twelve very memorable men. Genesis 49.
- Rueben – strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: but you’re as unstable as water,
- Simeon and Levi are cruel, the killed a man, and they’ll be cursed.
- Judah, your brothers will praise you and your hand will be in the neck of your enemies. He ws a lion’s whelp. Obviously he had some great habits!
- Zebulun was known as a haven for ships. Someone people could depend on.
- Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. His habits must have been that he took care of justice.
- Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
- Asher was my kind of man! Jacob said of him that his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. I’m not sure if his habit was that of eating, but I do like a good piece of bread and royal dainties!
- Jacob said of his son Issachar that he was a strong ass couching down between two burdens and that he became a great servant.
- Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words, he must have had the habit of encouraging people.
- and then there was of course the 11th son, Joseph which is one of the most amazing stories of a man of habitually good character that he ends up saving his nation from famine.
- And the youngest Benjamin who Jacob loved and was a great hunter of prey.
Like us all, the 12 sons of Jacob, had good habits and bad. And he called them out, right there on his death bed. Not so sure that’s the way I want to leave this world, but for Jacob, it was his desire and his sons stood there and took it.
So what will your habits say about you? Are there habits that you’re striving to rid yourself of? Yeah… me too. So what can we do to encourage ourselves in this battle? A lesson from Joseph helped direct my mind today…
Jacob said of Joseph:
Joseph Bore Fruit
And lot of it! While we cannot work our way to Heaven, James 2:18 says Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
I want a to be known for good work habits. I have been struggling with that lately because my world is scattered between many responsibilities. But I am praying that through self discipline and focus, I can bring my work habits and fruit bearing back into line with that of Joseph. Well, let’s be real, I don’t know that I will or have ever aligned with Joseph. But I want to. I want to be habitually busy for the kingdom.
Genesis 49:22-26 KJV
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: [23] The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: [24] But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) [25] Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: [26] The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Jacob knew that Joseph had done great and wonderful things far above what he had done. I want that for my children and my grandchildren. While we cannot physically hand down our habits, can we not practice a godly life every day that will cause our children and grandchildren to desire it and be better at than we are.
If a habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up, should we not strive to habitually live for Jesus. habitually read His Word. Habitually be kind. Habitually be honest. Should these not be easier to become habits, than taking on habits that are so hard to rid ourselves of? But none the less, we have to habitually, intentionally do those things.
My prayer for you and I today is this:
God in Heaven, God of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Shari. Help us Lord to make it a habit to daily read your word and allow those around us to see us, so that they too will have that desire. Father may our lives bear sweet fruit like that of Joseph that was abundantly running over the wall. God I thank You that I too have “progenitors”, meaning ancestors, who had good and faithful habits that I learned from. Let me never fail to forget those like my own Mother, who daily made a habit of caring for her home and even now as her mind is struggling, that habit continues. Let us be so faithful Lord!!!! Let us have a habit of encouraging one another as Naphtali did. Oh God, I’ve wrote myself happy again this morning, knowing that if I like James work in faith, You will reward! Thank You God for the joy in my heart and please give my friends a great dose of joy today too! In the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord. I ask it all. Amen.