by Julie Yee
03 January 2010
We have often hear the saying, “Old habits die hard”. How true. A columnist in the Star newspaper wrote today (27/12/09) under the headlines “Habits can kill”. He was reporting on the high numbers of road accidents that occurred because many motorcyclist have the habit of zooming in and out of lanes, between vehicles, overtaking unnecessarily that have taken many innocent lives.
I don’t know about you, but I have this lousy habit of collecting or keeping used things: from gift wrappers to boxes to old greeting cards, from newspaper cuttings of recipes and articles to empty jam bottles and cookie tins. But come end of the year, I spend my leave and festive holidays sorting and discarding them one by one because they are cluttering up my space and collecting dust. When it comes to clothes, it’s the same. Clothes that do not fit anymore or the ones my husband commented, “looks old and faded and you look more like Ah Soh now”, are still occupying space in my wardrobe. When a man tells you that, you better believe it. He usually is right. By the time I finish, I usually end up with bags and bags of unwanted and unused items, some turned colours, waiting either for the garbage truck to come along or sending them to the recycle centre.
What do I do with new spaces?
Fill them up with new things, of course.
It’s the same with our lives. Do you have old habits that get in your way, stop you from change or growth? Do you have old habits of doing mundane activities or inactivity that is taking you nowhere? Do you have old habits that prevent you from giving your best to the Master?
If you have the habit of saying, “I can’t, I can’t”, try be like Paul who says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil 4:13
If you have the habit of never expecting much, thinking your life is just dull or mediocre, be it your career or home, why not notch up your expectations. Move up to a higher plan. Col 3:1 tells us “to set our minds on things above”. The sky is the limit.
If you have the habit of being a glutton and piling up your weight, why not fast for a good reason; for the salvation of a loved one, health or physical problem, for the success of a mission work or growth of the church. Matt 6; 17-18, Isaiah 58:8-12 tell us that fasting has its rewards such as light that breaks out like the morning, healing, righteousness, answered prayers ……
If you have the habit of a babbler which the Lord reckons to a serpent which bites (Eccle 10:11), why not be a listener instead. For once, let others rest their ears and exercise their mouths. Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live”, says the Lord.
If you have the habit like Moses who said, “Lord, send someone else. I am not eloquent”, why not be like Isaiah 6:8-9 who says “Here am I, Lord. Send me”.
If you have the habit of being late or absent for services, why not set new records for being the one with the best attendance. Your presence will encourage me and members of the congregation (Heb 10:25)
If you have the habit of grumbling and complaining, why not learn to appreciate with praises and thanksgivings. Eph 5:20 “Giving thanks always, for all things …”
If you have the habit of reading everything first like the latest news, books from your favourite authors why not read the BIBLE first, for in it you have the words of life (John 6:68, 8:51)
If you have the habit of taking, or robbing God of your giving, why not out-give the widow who had nothing except her two mites but gave her all. “And see whether God will open up the heavens and pour out such blessings there will not be room in your house to hold it”. Mal 3:10
If you have the habit of procrastinating or putting things off, why not start TODAY!. “Today, if you will hear His voice do not harden your hearts. Heb 3:7-8”.
Someone once said, “You can’t find new oceans unless you lose sight of the shore”. We must be ready to purge out the old leaven, remove the old die hard habits before we set new visions, scale new heights and raise our level of expectancy for ourselves and the church.
You have TODAY, a new day, a new year to start everything anew with your trust fully anchored in God. For if we are in Christ, we are a new creation, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). Let us put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of God who created us. (Col 3:10
To all my sisters in the faith,
“A Very Happy and Successful New Year” as you ring out the old, ring in the new!
