Set in your ways

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Have you ever noticed that as people get older they tend to get “set in their ways”? They may eat the same food at the same time every day. They may drink coffee every day out of the same mug. They may insist on certain brands of products and shop the same day every week at the same store. Every night might be sitting in the same chair watching the same TV shows weekly. If they are church-goers, they will definitely sit in the same pew week after week! Their yearly vacation is always taken during the same week every year—perhaps during deer season?

It is in our human nature to fall into a schedule or routine of some sort. I think it helps us function without thinking so much. For instance, I have a normal nightly routine before bed and if I do something different one night, I have a tendency to forget something—most often taking out my contacts. I then wake up the next morning with “miraculous sight” only to realize something went awry in my nightly routine.

Because of this “human phenomenon” of routine seeking, I think it is important to note the beginning verse where it says, “SET your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. We can use this fixation on routine to help us grow spiritually by becoming SET in godly habits. Daniel 6:10 says, “he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” We can make it routine to pray daily just as Daniel was in the habit of doing. In January of every year, many of us make resolutions concerning our health and becoming organized, but incorporating godly habits should be first on the list!

Along with that thought, we also need to un-SET our minds concerning bad habits that we have formed such as cigarettes, weekly gambling, or going to the local hangout to gossip. SET your mind on things above and rise above those bad habits. One trick is to replace an old habit with a good habit. Perhaps one could replace the gambling with giving to a worthy cause? Change your gossip habit to sending encouraging cards weekly? I do not know about quitting cigarettes since I have never experienced it, but I did see a worthy suggestion recently—for thirty days walk 30 minutes per day no matter what the weather. After accomplishing that goal, one builds confidence and is able to accomplish the intended goal of laying down cigarettes. Most important of all is drawing strength from God—after all, the Holy Spirit indwells Christians. The power of the Holy Spirit lies untapped within many Christians.

Our perfect example that we are to follow is Jesus Christ. In Luke 9:51, it says, “he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem”, even though He knew that He would be crucified in Jerusalem. The language used in this verse denotes an unshakable determination. Quitting a bad habit is hard, but when you “steadfastly set” yourself to accomplish that by setting your mind on God and things above, it will be possible for you this January! Jesus said in Matthew 19:26, “with God all things are possible.” Become unmovable in your godly routine! “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).

Heavenly Father, forgive me for my selfish ways and bad habits. Help me to establish godly habits to glorify You. My purpose in life is to glorify You. Mold me into that godly woman that shines her light for You. I praise You for Your mercy and grace; You are a God of a million chances! Let this year be a year of spiritual growth and learning. In Jesus' name, Amen.