A New Habit in a Cedar Chest

We had some guests staying at our house over the course of three weeks; two different groups of people. To accommodate their privacy, we switched a dresser from one room with a cedar chest that was in another guest room.

Our goal was to provide a large dresser for each of the guests to place their clothing in while they stayed with us. We also wanted the cedar chest where Cathy and I stored our sweaters to be in the un-used guest room so we could access them more easily.

After all of the guests went to their own places of residency, I moved the dresser and cedar chest back into the rooms where they were originally.

For the next two weeks, Cathy and I found ourselves going into the un-used guest room where the cedar chest had been for a few weeks, instead of the room where it had been for a few years. For some reason we had been reprogrammed into going in to a different room. We had formed over a very short period of time a new habit; one that seemed hard to break.  

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t change some pattern, habit, or behavior in your life? Have you tried and tried only to end up failing? Try this experiment: For the next two to three weeks, work on what habit you would like to change. Set your course and work on whatever it is that you want to change; it really is that simple.

If it is getting up earlier to exercise, then just do it (sorry Nike). If it is to change your diet by eliminating _____ from your diet, then eliminate it. Eventually your body will get in line with what you are trying to do.

If it is looking for opportunities to do good, then step out and go towards the first person you see. So what if you “fail”; are you really failing or just starting a new habit? Just don’t quit; keep going, you will eventually get there.

In the Bible, the apostle Paul put it this way;

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NKJV)

Paul is trying to encourage us that the same principle that got us into bad habits can get us into good habits. We just need to keep sowing into them and not faint (give up) knowing that in a short time we can change a life time habit.

I’m pulling for you!