“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you [Ruth] are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11).

By now, you should be familiar with this progression:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

Ruth is a perfect example of how this progression plays out. Her desire: “Your people will be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth, a Moabite, was determined to return to Bethlehem with Naomi, the mother of her deceased husband. Because she was obedient to Naomi in all her actions, Boaz, a “man of standing,” looked favorably on her behavior (habits), and declared her to be “a woman of noble character.” Ruth’s destiny was to marry Boaz and become great-grandmother to King David and a direct ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17; see v. 5).

Notice the verbs in the bulleted progression above. What does it mean to mold a character? Some synonyms for “mold” include to shape, to fashion, to form, or to make. What is it we are making? What is “character?” Character usually is described as qualities or traits in a person. Qualities or traits can be positive, negative, or even neutral. Did you know that the word “character” can be traced back to the Greek charassein, meaning “to sharpen, cut in furrows, or engrave?” This word gave the Greeks charaktēr, a noun meaning “mark, distinctive quality.” 

I love the image of being molded, like a potter molding a sculpture or vase, with loving hands. God spoke the earth into existence, including light, the sun, moon, stars, land, seas plants, and animals. However, Genesis 2:7 tells us that “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” God formed us, he molded us, he shaped us in his image.

As believers, we recognize that we were made in the image of God. Man’s fall distorted this image, and in our ongoing sanctification we strive to grow to be more like Jesus, to possess His characteristics, his character. As believers in Christ, we have a “new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10, ESV). And as we grow in faith, we “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

The Apostle Paul gave us the list of qualities that are the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” To grow in faith–to be transformed–is to grow in these qualities. These qualities are defined as fruit of the Spirit because in our distorted sin nature we cannot possess these perfectly without supernatural help.

Previous Chaplain’s Corners have discussed the process of making choices about our actions that will become our habits. The actions we choose to take and to repeat until they become habits are all designed to help us develop the qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. We choose this path because it is the path to becoming more Christ-like in our character. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have a peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:1-4). Our hope (our destiny) is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Judy

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Three weeks ago, we began a series on “Choices” and introduced the concept below:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

If you have not already, I encourage you to go back and to read the three prior Chaplain’s Corners on Choices. Last week we touched on actions and how to conform our actions to our new heart and godly thoughts. Today we build on that theme to learn how to turn actions into habits.

Why are habits important? Habits are helpful tools. We form a habit through repetition, and when we repeat an action often enough, then it becomes encoded into our brain. The really important concept to remember is something that Vince Lombardi once said: “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” We need to be sure we are taking the right actions before we try to build them into habits. And to ensure we are taking the right actions, we must first work on our desires and our thoughts.

For perfect habit formation, I like to use the analogy of learning a new skill, whether it be playing an instrument or excelling at a sport. The word that comes to mind is “practice.” If you think about practice in this context, you can see that it includes instruction in the action from someone who is an expert, performing the action, evaluating your progress, doing it again. Perfect practice; perfected habit. Here are a couple of experts in the formation of spiritual habits that I highly recommend:

• John Ortberg: The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People
• John Mark Comer: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
• James Clear*: Atomic Habits

Here are some practical ideas:

1. Each morning. pray to God to direct your actions. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
2. Be intentional about learning from others, modeling godly behavior. This speaks to the importance of seeking the company of godly people. The Bible is clear about this. “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26). “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
3. Constantly think about your actions and your choices about your actions. This might be a choice about what you say or what you do in any given situation. This is especially important if you are going into a challenging situation, or one that you know might have some temptations. Remember that even Jesus was tempted. And he overcame that temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and by using the Word of God as his weapon. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).
4. It helps to remember your motivation for your words and actions. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
5. Periodically through the day, reflect on your words and actions from the past hour, during that last meeting or interaction, etc. Repent when needed; ask forgiveness when needed, thank God for his guidance when you know you have done well. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

It’s so easy to drift into bad habits. Maybe we don’t even realize it until it’s done: a habit of collapsing in front of the television rather than going for a walk, or a habit of going for the cookie jar rather than the fruit bowl. (Remember, the tempter is always at work.) If you are following the steps above and still find it hard, then try some things that I have found helpful.

1. Remove the temptation. (Put the fruit in the cookie jar?).
2. Add a “sweetener” to your habits. I love to sit on my back porch in the morning, and I will get up early just to have time for my morning coffee outside. Add Bible study and you have reinforced an excellent habit of starting your day with time with God while enjoying God’s beautiful nature. And I put my Bible study materials by the back door so they are ready to grab on my way out. No excuses.
3. Give yourself a break. If you miss a day or fall for the cookie, just enjoy the moment and prayerfully get back into your good intentions and good habits.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

In Christ,

Judy

*James Clear did not write Atomic Habits from a Christian perspective, but the recommendations in his book are good and can easily be applied to our efforts in building good spiritual habits. I would read the first two recommendations first, and then add his book as a supplement.

^“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).

Two weeks ago, we began a series on “Choices” and introduced the concept below:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

Today we begin to talk about our actions, the visible and tangible evidence of our desires and thoughts. Will our actions automatically conform to our new heart and godly thoughts? Unfortunately, the answer is “no.”  Some of us have become good at acting. We can act “appropriately” despite our evil desires and/or our impure thoughts. Or maybe it is just the opposite: we act inappropriately even though we know better and wish to do better. Probably all of us have done this at some time, even today. And doubtless you would agree with me that this is ultimately stressful. However, when we are acting in a way that is in accordance with our hearts and minds, we are showing integrity.

So how do we conform our actions to our new heart and godly thoughts? The first thing to do is to realize that all our actions or behaviors are choices. This realization should lead us to be intentional rather than just “going with the flow.” Here are just a few examples:

1. Show mercy to someone who does not deserve it.
2. Look away/walk away before committing lust or covetousness.
3. Seek out and attend worship service.
4. Tithe to your church (which implies that you are a regular member of a church).
5. Pray daily; give thanks to God.
6. Greet/acknowledge everyone.
7. Get up on time, which implies getting up when your alarm goes off (which implies setting an alarm).
8. Eat a piece of fruit rather than a sugary snack.
9. Stay on your budget (which implies making a budget); not buying something just because it makes you feel good.
10. Read your Bible every day, even if it means giving up something else.
11. Switch the television channel to something that is wholesome, or just turn the thing off and read your Bible.
12. Call your mother or father, or sister or brother, to check on them.
13. Turn the other cheek.
14. Repay evil with good.
15. Respond with understanding rather than anger.
16. Speak words of encouragement rather than destruction.
17. Lend a helping hand rather than passing on by.
18. Make the first move toward reconciliation, and the second, and the third if necessary.
19. /Deny yourself.
20. Use your God-given spiritual gifts for the glory of God.

Secondly, constantly anticipate your choices regarding your actions. This might be a choice about what you will say or what you will do in each situation. This is especially important if you are going into a challenging situation, or one that you know might have some temptations. Remember that even Jesus was tempted. And he overcame that temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and by using the Word of God as his weapon. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

Thirdly, (and this is first on the list at my church): Pray first; then act. I can’t think of anything that would not be improved by first pausing and praying before taking action.

The Apostle Paul himself admitted to struggling with aligning his heart and his actions. You can hear his anguish as he writes, in Romans 7:18-23 – “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”

Paul concluded the passage above with this prayer: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

In other words, do not give up. It will be worth it.

In Christ,

Judy

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Last week we began a series on “Choices” and introduced the concept below:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• Your character shapes your destiny.

Godly choices begin in our hearts, and last week we read about the importance of repentance, prayer, and remembering the great things that God has done to conform our hearts to desiring God. “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come–sexual immorality, theft, murder” (Mark 7:21). So, it is critical to get our hearts right to take the next step in the progression of Godly choices to conform our thoughts to what pleases God. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The question is how? When one of my granddaughters was spending the night with us (she was about three years old), she was having trouble going to sleep. She kept having scary thoughts. I told her to think about something happy, but she said she couldn’t. She told me that the scary thoughts just kept going through her mind and she could not do anything about it. This doesn’t just happen to children. Even as adults we have all kinds of thoughts that bombard our minds: impure thoughts, worries, fears, dredging up past hurts, anger, bitterness. It can seem like we have no control. These thoughts can keep us awake, they can keep us from hearing the sermon on Sunday, they upset us so that we are unkind to others. So again, the question is how do we take these thoughts captive and become obedient to Christ? One caveat. We cannot do this alone. We must submit ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit. Here are five practical ways to take your thoughts captive and to make your mind obedient to Christ:

1. Decide in advance (daily, or more often if necessary) that you are going to submit your thoughts to God’s guidance, and ask for his help, in advance. The Holy Spirit has been given to us for just this purpose. Choose a Bible verse for the day to focus on when your thoughts begin to go astray and/or have a plan for something positive or productive to think about such as something you are grateful for. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
2. Think about what you are thinking. You may not be able to stop a thought from popping into your mind, but you can choose to continue to think it or to replace it with a godly thought. “As someone thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).
3. Remember the source of those thoughts. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).
4. As an ungodly thought occurs, confess it, and ask for God’s help, then immediately replace it with your Bible verse or thanksgiving. Remember, God already knew your thoughts. When you confess, you are agreeing with God that you need to change your thinking. “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2). “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
5. Be conscious of what you put into your mind in the first place. There is a computer term that applies: “Garbage in, garbage out (GIGO).” There is no substitute for the Scriptures; they should be foremost in our reading, studying, and meditating. Good commentaries, inspirational messages, and sound Bible study tools are also helpful. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Personally, I struggle with my mind sometimes running away with negative, fearful, or useless thoughts. I have learned to follow the preceding five guidelines. Here are two verses that I regularly meditate on as soon as I realize what’s going on in my mind (see #1,4 above). I am so thankful for the power of the Word of God.

• “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
• “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

The main thing to remember is that you do not have to be, and you should not be, enslaved to your thoughts. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, you can decide what to think. Some days might be more challenging than others; but remember this is a moment-by-moment decision to take your thoughts captive; to claim your thoughts for God.

One final thought: Our faith is a matter of our hearts and minds, before anything else. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). All we must do is believe, and belief happens in our hearts and minds, not in anything that we do.

In Christ,

Judy

“…. choose this day whom you will serve…” (excerpted from Joshua 24:15).

God did something very intentional when he created humans during that first week of creation: He gave us the ability to choose.

He created the earth and all the plants and animals, and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Uniquely among His Creation, God made humans in His image to rule over the remainder of His Creation. He planted the beautiful Garden of Eden for them, He gave them responsibilities, and He delighted in spending time with them. It is clear that God made humans for relationship with Himself; and He wanted that relationship to be based on man’s willingness to love Him back. So, God also gave them a choice.

“And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:16-17).

We often call this ability to choose “free will.” God placed a tree in the garden, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and then told Adam that if he ate the fruit of this tree he would surely die. This is also considered to be a conditional covenant, meaning that God gave to Adam this eternal paradise on the condition that he not eat the fruit of that tree. So, Adam’s choice was either to not eat the fruit of the tree and live forever, or he could eat the fruit and die. A life-or-death choice, a “no-brainer.”

But we know what happened. Satan, an angel who had earlier made his own choice to become an enemy of God, set out to win over God’s creation to the enemy side. Satan began a campaign of deception right there in the Garden of Eden, and Adam chose to believe Satan’s lies rather than God’s truth.

Do you find yourself wishing that God had not put the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden? Why did he do that if He didn’t want Adam to eat the fruit? If God had just not given Adam this choice, our lives would have been so much easier, right? Well, in His infinite wisdom, He did give us choices. Our decision today, this very minute, is how are we going to choose?

Our choice is to believe and obey the Word of God, or to believe and obey the lies of Satan. There is no middle ground. It sounds simple, so why do we fail? Here is something to help us to understand:

• Your desires drive your thoughts.
• Your thoughts direct your actions.
• Your actions become your habits.
• Your habits mold your character.
• /Your character shapes your destiny.

Many people have been credited with this concept. I believe it to be useful in helping us to make good choices, so it will be used as an outline for the next six devotions. As you can see, the starting point is desire. So, if, according to Genesis 6:5 “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time,” how can our hearts be changed? In fact, it is only Christ’s death on the cross that enabled us to be saved, that accomplished our heart change. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

When we accept what God has done for us, He changes our hearts to desire Him. We are then able to build on our desire to make godly choices. Here is a three-step plan..

1. Repent of our sin nature. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

2. Ask God to change our hearts. “God have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

3. Make it a habit to remember all the good things that God has done for us. “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Note that while Jesus’ work of salvation was accomplished once and for all at the cross, our part in our sanctification is an ongoing process. As Paul instructed and encouraged the Philippians, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Let us start with seeking to glorify God by desiring a relationship with Him. “Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!” (Matthew 5:6) (The Message).

In Christ,

Judy