Do you ever feel stuck in a pattern?
As a mom to a toddler, I have often felt like my conversations consist of repeating the same lessons, instructions, and commands more than anything else. For years, I have been constantly reminding my son to use his manners, to clean up after himself, to not pick his nose, and to be gentle and kind to pets and people.
If I feel like I repeat myself as a parent, I wonder how God must feel with His kids. God instructs us, shapes our thinking, and helps us to be like Him…and we often need to be reminded.
But that’s part of learning a new way to be. Like my toddler needs constant repetition and instruction so that he can mature, my words guide his actions and shape his patterns and habits. These patterns influence his thoughts and intentions which will ultimately define his character. In the same way, we all need a steady diet of instruction so that godliness can grow in our lives.
This week, we encourage you to cultivate a pattern of godliness. There are several things you can do to help make God-centered living a repeating pattern in your daily walk, like:
- Fill your head and heart with Scripture
- Follow the words and instructions of our Heavenly Father
- Be in a posture and practice of active praise and worship
- Steer clear of things you know lead you astray from righteous living…whether that’s people, places, forms of entertainment, etc. that draw you away from honoring God and toward honoring your own desires.
- Make room for quietude where you can reflect and meditate on Scripture
- Listen with humility for God’s voice – through Scripture and through the gift of holy spirit within you – to point out those behaviors or thinking patterns that keep you stuck in a rut – and show you how to glorify Him.
What a blessing it is to have such a patient, loving Father who instructs us in His ways. Let’s put forth our best effort to be like Him in every possible way!
