CULTIVATING GODLY HABITS
According to his usual habit Paul went to the synagogue. There during three Sabbaths he held discussions with the people… (Acts 17:2 GNB).
Some habits programme you positively for success, while some others programme you negatively for failure. For example, a student who stays up late to watch
movies is definitely programming himself wrongly. He shouldn’t expect to turn out the same way with another who’s studious at night, and spends his time wisely. The latter will most likely end up an excellent student, while the former ends up average or even obtuse.
Human beings are born with “wild” instincts; they come into the world as babies who are uncultured and untamed. As they grow, their inherent “wildness” makes it easier for them to pick up bad habits faster than good ones. This explains why a child may start telling lies without anyone necessarily teaching him how to. As he continues in it, it forms his character. Thus the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Children are to be taught early to imbibe godly habits.
The older you get, the more difficult it is to adjust your habits. An adult can’t change easily because he already has a lifestyle, and to change it, he’ll have to get a new one. He’ll only have the opportunity of a new lifestyle when he’s born again; that’s when he receives a brand new life and a new Lord over his life.
If you’re unhappy because of an unwholesome habit, don’t become frustrated; rather, realize that habits are simply repeated actions. If you’d replace that old habit with a goodone, you’d get rid of the one you don’t like. The Bible says sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). God’s Word is given to us to guide our thoughts, habits, character, and ultimately build our lives. Whatever godly habit you desire to cultivate is possible. Spend more time in God’s Word and prayer, and your life will
align with His perfect will.
THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSONALITY
…For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was (James 1:22-24).
Our opening scripture isn’t dealing with the image, in terms of the external form or representation of the man who looks at himself in the mirror, but with the “manner” or “kind” of man. A doer of the Word doesn’t forget the “manner” of man he is: the quality of his personality. You’d understand this better if we read from the eighteenth verse; it says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).
God gave birth to us by the Word of truth; that is, the Gospel of Christ, so that we should be a kind or type of firstfruits of His creatures. That’s awesome! What’s the
meaning of firstfruits? It means the first and the best of God’s creatures.
When you were born again, you came up with a new kind and quality of life—the God-life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “...If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation....” As a new creation in Christ Jesus, you’re the perfection of beauty, and the best of everything God made. You’re superior to Satan. Thus, when a Christian says, “I need deliverance from the devil,” it’s because he has forgotten what “manner” or “type” of man he is. How could you need deliverance from Satan when you’re superior to him?
The Bible says you’re seated together with Christ in the heavenly realms, far above all principality and power. You occupy the place of the highest authority in Christ Jesus, far above Satan and everything that’s connected to him. Get to know the quality of your personality. It’s the reason we bring the Word of God to you every day on different platforms, to enlighten you on who you are in Christ.
EXCELLENCE IS GREATNESS
Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side (Psalm 71:21 ).
Some of the synonyms of the word “excellence” are superiority, extreme beauty, glory, and one more word, greatness. Excellence is greatness.“Greatness” here means,“surpassing others.” In other words, excellence makes you surpass others. This makes us understand people like Abraham and David who were described as great. Since greatness is a synonym of excellence, then Abraham and David were excellent men.
Excellence also means extra-ordinary discretion; It means having excellent perception. Many aren’t perceptive to the needs of others and their environment, and that’s what makes the difference between the greats and the smalls. Great people have great visions, and great visions don’t mean great plans or ambitions, but an extraordinary amplitude of perception—the ability to see so much at the same time.
The Spirit of God trains us to be excellent in different ways. Sometimes, He uses seemingly insignificant things to train us for greatness. Imagine you came into a room and saw a glass cup placed dangerously at the edge of a table. An excellent person will quickly make a move to prevent that cup from breaking. If you can rescue a dangerously placed cup, then God can trust you to rescue human beings. You’ll be more likely to see danger and do something about it to protect others.
If you consistently manifest excellence in the seemingly small things of life, you’re programming your spirit for greatness. Those little things you do on the outside are a reflection of the happenings on the inside. For instance, picking up litter from the floor depicts excellence in your spirit. Truly, excellence is greatness, for it makes you see all the little things that others ignore, thereby putting you ahead of them.
CULTIVATE AN EXCELLENT CHARACTER
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt
not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch (Genesis 49:3-4).
It’s possible for someone to have so much ability or be gifted with a certain skill, yet when such a skill is required, that individual isn’t chosen, because he or she
doesn’t have the right character. If you’d build your mind and develop the right mental structures, sooner or later, you’ll see the manifestations in your personality. Mental structure here doesn’t mean imaginations and reasoning; rather, they’re attitudes that you’ve cultivated over time that control your actions.
For instance, someone may have a great voice but he’s unable to make good music. Not because his voice isn’t fantastic, but because he’s not trained and disciplined
to make the most of his gift. We read about Reuben in our opening scripture. Reuben’s character and ability collided. He was the beginning of Jacob’s strength, the excellence of his wisdom. That means Jacob invested so much in him, but he was unstable as water; therefore, he wasn’t going to excel. The Hebrew word for “unstable” is “Pachaz,” which also means frothiness; to be unrestrained and undisciplined. Reuben was undependable as foamy water. He had the abilityto be someone influential and prosperous, but his character wouldn’t let him excel.
The ability to take on more assignments because of your performance is an excellent character. That means, you’re dependable and when there’s an innovation to be
actualized, you readily come to mind. But there’re those who are never thought of, to handle responsibilities, because they aren’t dependable.
Become the best of you by cultivating the rightcharacter. Inside you are hidden treasures; you came into this world with a unique personality. There’s something you
possess that nobody else in the world has; hence it’s important to find your place, and be the best of that peculiar you.