Bear fruit that befits repentance. Matthew 3:8

Today’s reflection will focus on two words, repentance and habits. Repentance is a change of orientation so that one is pointed more towards God. Repentance is the antidote to sin. Sin is missing the mark and falling away from God. Repentance is when we correct our course so that we are pointed at God. Our life on earth involves a continual struggle to create habits that point us in the direction of God, while avoiding habits that take us away from Him. Because we all have the inclination to sin, we have to also develop an inclination to repent. In the battle of sin versus repentance, our daily habits will play a role in which wins. For example, a daily habit of prayer is important in fighting the battle against sin and towards repentance. Prayer, at the moment we are doing it, orients us towards God. We can’t be sinning and praying at the same time. Sin happens at the moments when we are not praying. Theoretically, the more we pray, the less we sin. And the less we pray, the more open we are to sinning. Because in the moment of prayer, we are not capable of gossiping or harming our neighbor, and the majority of sins involve failing to love our neighbor.

All of us have bad habits. Habits are things we do on a regular basis, some even without thinking. Other habits are known to us—maybe we have a habit of drinking too much, or gossiping or swearing, looking at pornography, judging, looking at others with envy, overeating, being too negative—the list is endless. And if we are honest, we all do at least a few things habitually wrong.

How does one break a bad habit? How does one stop a negative cycle? I’ve read that it takes thirty days to create a new habit. So, whether that means eating better or exercising or whatever we are trying to do better, if we do it for thirty days, it has a good chance of becoming a good habit.

To the person who is addicted to a bad habit, thirty days may seem like a very long time. At Alcoholics Anonymous, a support group that helps people stop drinking, the focus is on today. AA doesn’t ask or expect an alcoholic to never drink again for the entirety of his or her life. That is too long of a period of time to wrap one’s head around. So the focus is on not drinking today. This is why alcoholics go to meetings on a daily basis, to make a pledge to not drink today, and then they come back tomorrow to make the same pledge for a new day.

What does any of this have to do with encouragement? Our bad habits discourage us. They cause us to feel down about ourselves, our lives, our relationships, and our relationship with Christ. If you feel down and discouraged because of a bad habit you have, break the cycle of bad behavior by making a pledge to not do the behavior today. Much of what we will be discussing in these reflections is to focus on today’s challenges and not look at the big picture, which can be daunting.

As you begin each day, make a pledge to avoid a bad habit today. And if you get through today, make the same pledge tomorrow. At the same time, make a pledge to work on a good habit today. And if you make a step in the right direction, make the same pledge tomorrow. There is no waiting period when it comes to repentance. If you are not in the habit of praying, there isn’t a period of probation or punishment until you can pray again, just pray today. If you have some bad habit, stop it today. (As a caveat, there are certain addictions that require professional help—a person with a drug or alcohol addiction is going to need professional help. Other kinds of addictions are a matter of will-power, such as controlling what we eat, or what we say. The addictions that are overcome through will power should be addressed through prayer. Prayer is a great tool in overcoming bad habits. So is being accountable to someone else).

If you aren’t the best at praying, or you are addicted to some habitual sin, do not despair. Break the cycle of bad behavior and start a cycle of good behavior with a pledge to do the right thing today.

Lord, thank You for the gift of this day and the opportunities it will bring. Help me to avoid temptations (list at least one temptation you will strive to avoid today) and help me to bear fruit that befits repentance and shows love to You and others (list at least one good thing that you will commit to doing today). Give me the strength to avoid temptation and the heart that seeks to do good. Amen.

As you begin today, affirm something good that you will commit to doing today, and make a commitment to avoid a temptation you struggle with today. Bear fruits that befits repentance by avoiding situations that cause you to sin.

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