Choosing My Habits
It was my high school Spanish teacher who challenged an old axiom I had heard all my life.
“Practice makes perfect.”
This little phrase had been a mantra that I had assumed must be in the Bible somewhere because I heard it so much. It was the challenge used to keep me at my piano lessons (which I eventually quit). It promised great results for my plans to become a famous artist (which I gave up on), and pushed me in sports (for which I eventually lost interest). Consistent practice was hard. But it was supposedly the pathway for developing good habits and accomplishing all the things I dreamed about!
Of course, the other side of the coin is true also: practice what you claim to value (even when you don’t feel it). Most good fruit in a person’s life results from good practices established that turn into good habits. Practice matters. We cannot honestly separate what we habitually do from who we are.
My Spanish teacher, however, popped the bubble. She said, “Only perfect practice makes perfect.” Her point, I assume, was that if I practice Spanish without correcting errors of pronunciation or syntax, I’m only reinforcing mistakes and will forever sound like a careless, ignorant Gringo. In other words, mediocre practice produces mediocre results.
It’s Too Hard
She was right, of course. But I took this rebuke to heart in the opposite direction she intended. It didn’t motivate me to study Spanish. Why even try? I knew I was not self-disciplined, and this language thing was not coming naturally. Disciplined practice was suddenly overrated! This thought became a foundation stone for giving up on many other practices for many years to come. “If I can’t do it perfectly, why even try?” But ironically, I was living out her words in a way I didn’t realize.
I was practicing and becoming very proficient in defeatism and making excuses. For a while, though I did not recognize it as such, this was the “disciplined” mindset to which I gave myself. I felt that there was nothing I could do to a standard of perfection. Interestingly, there is a body of psychological studies behind these kinds of mindsets and how habits (good and bad) are formed. It can be quite interesting. . . and spiritual.
The Biblical Side of Habits
The Bible actually has a lot to say about the things we habitually do or forsake doing. Following Jesus involves a lot of practice! That’s why we are called disciples; real discipline is necessary. And when we say one thing but do another, we’re rightly called hypocrites.
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice” (Matthew 23:3 ESV).
In essence, scripture tells us that we will become what we practice, be it good or bad. There are always consequences for whatever habits we cultivate. Those who practice faith in God’s trustworthiness please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Those who practice reliance on their own wisdom and feelings become separated from God, even cursed (Jeremiah 17:5-6). Our habits are not just about what and when we eat, or our commitment to exercise, or how well we control our time spent on social media. We practice everyday who and what we are becoming.
They Shape My Brain
I’ve heard several psychologists describe how malleable the human brain is. It adapts to my choices. My feelings sooner or later follow. This chunk of gray matter inside my skull seems to have been designed to create habits of behavior. Thus the more I give in to certain temptations that I know are not good for me (be they physical, relational, or spiritual) the closer I get to making such submissions habitual. Habits then become what I practice, often without even thinking about what I’m actually doing. And what I practice ultimately determines who I become and what I am known by. I have heard more than one person declare in his midlife: “This is not how I pictured my life turning out.” They speak as if it is an unfathomable mystery how they became who they are.
The warning is clear: DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BECOME!
Practice unforgiveness and you become bitter. Practice selfishness and you end up alone. Practice negativity and you end up living in a very dark world. And I could go on and on. The law of cause and effect is real, reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9) is more than a quaint saying.
Changing My Mind
The good news is that it is not too late to practice new things. Repentance is God’s gift to us for accomplishing meaningful change, discarding harmful habits, and choosing new practices and attitudes. It simply means to change the way we think – which usually involves humbling ourselves before God and often before others. And when we do it effectively, we admit to God (and others) where we have been doing it wrong and ask for Him to guide and empower us to do it (whatever that may be) His way.
Developing new habits, even after repenting of the old and bad stuff, doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process. But contrary to the counsel of my high-school Spanish teacher, it does not have to be done perfectly to be effective. It just has to be done with determination not to give up.
Jesus cares about your habits because He cares about who and what you are becoming! He came to this earth, suffered and died for you so that you could be freed to make new choices with Him as your guide. He wants you to learn how to act like who He says you are!
Go ahead! Choose to start (or refine) your practice of following Jesus, and become who and what you were meant to be. Ask Him how.
Response:
- What kind of habits do I presently have that are good? What are ones that I want to change?
- What am I practicing in my relationships that is leading me to be someone I don’t want to be?
- What do I say I value, but there is no evidence in my practices that it is so?
- What would it mean for me to repent of that one practice in my life that does not match up with who God says I am?
- Jesus, how can I better practice being your follower?
(Edited and reposted from October 2, 2023, “Choosing What I Practice”)
Choose This Day 
Absolutely outstanding!!! I have sent in onto to Steph Mayers as he and had discussions about habits. I know he will enjoy your musings.
Blessing Pat Eahcus
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