“For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”                         Hebrews 5:13-14    NASB

Habits can be leveraged for good or bad.  Anything we repeat enough becomes easier to do the next time.  We then will be more likely to do it.  It becomes the path of least resistance, since it is the most comfortable choice, the one that takes the least amount of energy.  It becomes like a well-worn path across a field.

Eventually, a habit is formed.  The athlete and soldier take advantage of this truth to prepare themselves for effective action.  We can do this as disciples of Jesus, each good choice bringing us closer to Him and strengthening our inner man, that we might more easily choose it again at the next similar crossroads.

“This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts. ”                     Psalm 119:56. NIV

This same principle can also work against us, causing us untold damage.  Habitual sinful patterns of thinking lead to repeated harmful actions.  Repeated acts lead to habits.  Habits eventually define our character and our life’s outcome.  Such is the unfortunate phenomenon of addictions, such as pornography, alcoholism, habitual drug use, shoplifting, lying, and those with reputations for anger.

Lord, help us to use this principle of repetition to form habits in our character that will bring us closer to You, more like Jesus, and more effective for Your kingdom purposes.