Guarding Your Ways (Dealing with bad habits)

In Psalm 39:1, we are given an important warning,

1 I said, “I will guard my ways,
Lest I sin with my tongue;
I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle,
While the wicked are before me.”

The Hebrew word translated "ways" in this passage literally means a well-trodden path. It paints the picture of a pathway that has been walked down so many times that a groove has been worn in that path.

The psalmist is drawing our attention to something that has been repeated again and again, a response that has been so often repeated that it has become engrained in our behavior—a habit.

You have probably heard the saying, "He's set in his ways," meaning it is not likely you are going to change the way a person acts in certain instances. The "ways" are habits, attitudes, and responses that aren't likely to change without a very powerful motivation or without some sort of an encounter with God.

I think virtually every habit we have initially began with a thought. Sow a thought; reap an action. Sow an action; reap a habit. Sow a habit; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny. It all goes back to a thought that perhaps should have been dealt with, but wasn't.

Take some time today to consider your thoughts. Are you giving way to thoughts that will lead to ungodly habits? If so, give those thoughts to God and ask Him to help you think the thoughts that will lead to godly habits.

Think of Psalm 118:24,
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

I have bad habits too, and sometimes I let them get in the way of my walk with Christ.  But I can still choose to say "today, I'm not going to do (this thing), or...today, I'm not going to take part in (that action.)"  The devil will use your bad habits to trick your mind into thinking God doesn't love you or you have given up on being a Christian.  Recognize that lie and say "No!" to it.  You will have days when you blow it - we all do - but don't give up on finishing the race God has set before you.  Don't ever be afraid to pray either.  Remember God misses you just as much as you miss Him when you don't pray.

And remember...every word from God brings a blessing when obeyed.

So if anything you've read here today has touched your heart, don't be afraid to pray and talk with God about it. He knows anyway, and is more than willing to help you through every single day.  Every single moment, if that's what it takes.

Here's a prayer to help you get started:

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this brand new day.  I'm sorry about the things I do - please forgive me.  Thank you that you help me to think about You and me...and that even though, sometimes, I feel a million miles away, you always remind me that you're right there by my side all the time.  Thank you Jesus, that you are my Savior too."

Here's a helpful message for every day as well: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

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