GoodhabitsJan03

Good Habits

I woke up this morning with some thoughts on my mind that I trust were from the Lord. Thinking them through and looking up relevant scriptures were a blessing to me and hope they will encourage you also.

(PS Now this was much easier to write than it is to DO!)

Psalm 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

Everyday we have hundreds of decisions to make beginning with what time we will get out of bed and what time we will require our children to get out of bed to how we will organize our day, do academics, spend time with the Lord God, use free time, serve others, use our tongue to build up or to tear down, to be thankful or to murmur and complain, etc. What kind of examples will we set before our children and others? Will we walk in the light or in darkness? Will we honour and glorify God or please the carnal man?

As we were reminded in the meeting yesterday, we are in a warfare. We cannot be idle and just coast. We need to put on the whole armour of God to be good soldiers. See Ephesians 6.

We must have a plan and pray for self-control and diligence to carry out that plan. Haven't you heard the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."? What are our goals for today? For the week? For the month? For the year? For training our children? For serving God?

It has been suggested to me to take time to write down my most important goals and reevalute them from time to time to see if I'm "staying on course." The way I spend my time can either help accomplish my goals or not.

Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

A few friends have been telling me lately about "fly lady." Although I'm not interested in getting the multiple e-mails she offers on a daily basis, I went to the website for some decluttering tips. She emphasizes taking "baby steps." Work on a couple of things consistently and work on a large task for a few minutes at a time.

Luke 16:10, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." (sounds a little like "baby steps" to me whether speaking about the size of the job or amount of time good thought for our children and for me!)

Emilie Barnes talks about doing things in 15 min. increments. Inge Cannon talks about choosing a couple of things to work on until it becomes an established habit rather than trying to fix everything at once. Just get started! Begin working toward worthwhile goals and establishing habits that will benefit your family.

A quote I read in a Morning Moments perpetual calendar said, "Good habits can be some of your child's best friends. Getting up early (and cheerfully), daily Bible reading, cleanliness, punctuality, planning, good dietif they are an automatic part of his life, they will save your child much time, pain and stress as an adult and free him for productivity."

Isaiah 28:10, "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" (that sounds a little like baby steps and consistency, too.)

Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

May God bless you.