Five habits that have most impacted my life
“Whether habits are planned and created conscientiously, or allowed to be haphazardly filled in by chance, they are habits all the same. Habit rules ninety-nine percent of everything we do.”-Charlotte Mason
Whether it’s reaching for a cigarette, your phone, or a sip of your water bottle, chances are you do it by habit. Not sure where Charlotte Mason got her 99% figure, but it can’t be far off. We are creatures of habit.
For me, establishing habits is far more effective than setting goals. I used to set goals every year, now I just focus on habits, recognizing that goals often reach themselves once habits are in place. Of course goals have their place too, but habits have been far more effective for me in terms of creating real change over the long haul. So here are a few of my favs:
1. Four chapters a day.
I’m starting my 22nd time reading through the Bible. More than any other habit, reading through the Bible every year has, without a doubt, most shaped and impacted my life for good. I was thanking God this morning for graciously allowing me to do this every year, and asking Him to allow me many, many more. My life, mind, and eyesight are in his hands. There are those who cannot read, who do not have God’s Word, or who are not able, and I’m so grateful for the privilege! It takes about 20 minutes a day to read 3 OT and 1 NT chapter, and that’ll get you through in less than a year.
2. Early bedtime.
I know, I know, I sound like such an old lady. But I’ve found that the quality of my day is often determined the night before my day. Inadequate or impaired sleep can contribute to heart disease, weight gain, diabetes, tumor growth, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s–a whole host of maladies not to mention just general grumpiness! In fact, memory impairment can take place after just one night of impaired sleep (4-6 hours).
Of course your own sleep patterns are your business, but I know my body functions best simply following the early to bed, early to rise adage. Traditional medicine and modern sleep science backs this up, recommending about 9pm-5am as the best time for your body to repair, detox, and replenish. Plus, getting to bed early ensures time with your spouse, if you’re married, or time to wind down with a good read. Skip screens entirely!
3. Gobs of greens.
I’ve always been fascinated by nutrition, and God’s design for healing and health as found in the foods He’s provided. But this past year I began a habit that’s been enormously helpful in helping get those God-given nutrients into my body like never before. I started making 8-10 salads once a week, so that each day I can just grab a nutrient-packed meal without a second of prep. That and we stick PowerGreens in everything, and I enjoy a Suja mixed with Amazing Grass as well. Although I enjoy veggies at every meal, I love knowing that at least one meal is power-packed with healthy nutrients, probably a whole day’s worth of veggies, so that no matter what else happens that day, I’ve given my body some great fuel. No matter what diet you follow, everyone agrees–gobs of greens are good for you!
4. Walk and water.
Ok, sneaking two in here, but these are no-brainers. Exercise and water!
Argh…my browser just crashed and I lost the rest of this post and my free window of time is over because buddy’s naptime is up. Oh well! Sorry there’s no photo, my computer isn’t working to upload a photo either. Interestingly, the last point was:
5. Cut complaining completely.
There are lots of ways to grow in gratitude and become a more joyful, peaceful, more content person, but to me these two scriptures make it cuper clear: “Do everything without complaining” (Phil. 2:14) and “In everything be thankful” (1 Thess 5:18). I am THANKFUL that I have a computer, even though it crashed and I lost my work and I can’t get an image to load.
And I’m THANKFUL that I have a toddler, even though it means no free time to write.
I’m THANKFUL you are still tracking with me. And I’d love to hear YOUR favorite habits that have most impacted your life. PLEASE SHARE! Thanks so much, gotta run!
Dear Dutch,
Dear Dutch,
Happy 13th birthday. I know I’ve told you this before, but I never dreamed you would become so awesome! I just mean when you were little and wandering around in your Lightening McQueen underwear I never dreamed you would become a tall, handsome, smart, witty, funny, kind, generous, delightful young man who I SO enjoy being with!
I appreciate the ways that you help me so much. When you take care of the chickens, take out the garbage and recycling, help me with Justice, carry in groceries for me, all of these things SO help me. I can’t thank you enough, and I’m so proud of the way that you serve others. I appreciate how you help with set-up at church, and you do a great job running the slides for worship. You are capable and quick-witted, and you’ve become a huge help at church. You’re also so capable with Justice, which helps me so much. We really couldn’t do our Sunday mornings without you, Son. Thank you.
I also admire the way that you play and get along so well with your friends. [names] look up to so much. I love that you don’t treat them as younger, or look down on them, but you have a great way of entering in to whatever they’re into or bringing them into your world in ways that are appropriate for them. Truly, that is one of the most admirable things about you—you naturally adjust and are able to engage with people from 8-year-olds to 80-year-olds!
I’m so grateful for your hard work as you’ve begun FCCT school this year. I really never dreamed you’d do this well! I’ve been so pleased at how you do your homework and tests each week without being asked! Wow! You’re a homeschool mama’s dream. 😉 Of course I don’t get to see how you act in class 😉 but your teachers say you are a delight to have in class, so I’m trusting that you are. Keep being a delight!
I’m also proud of the way that you’ve grown in your kindness to Heidi. I’ve often seen you compromise or defer to her, and that is a sign of maturity. You’ve also begun to show some self-control in NOT saying every “funny” comment to her that comes to mind, and not blurting out corrections of Daddy in church. You’re growing in your understanding of appropriateness, context, and timing. Keep it up, Son!
I’ve prayed so many prayers for you over the years and will continue. I thank God often for Brant Hansen—in so many ways he is an answer to my prayers over the year, and I’m so grateful you have a godly role model in him. I wholeheartedly approve! My prayers now continue: I pray you will be pure in mind and action, that you will fear the Lord and desire to never sin against Him (Gen. 39:9). I pray you will always use your strength to be a protector of the weak, a provider for anyone in need around you. I pray you will, even in your strength and courage, be always mindful of the weak or hurt or needy around you. I pray you will always seek to protect and care for the women in your life. And I pray you will always use your knowledge and skills to make the world a better place, even if just by sharing that knowledge with those around you.
Dutch, I’m so proud of you. Thank you for being the best son I could ever ask for (shhh, don’t tell Justice! I’m sure he’ll be awesome too.) Please know you can always talk to me, or at me. 😉 I pray God gives me a long life so I can watch you and learn from you for years to come. Above all, Son, stay humble. As you walk in humility, God will give you grace, and you will succeed in life by His grace.
I love you,
Mom
Book sale!
Happy Monday, friends! This week only (12/9-12/15) we’re offering Sacred Mundane for the same price we offer it at conferences and retreats (half-off or more from Amazon’s price) with free shipping. This will get it to you in time for Christmas in case you want to bless someone with a bit of encouragement (even if that someone is yourself!). As always, 100% of my proceeds go to women and children through World Vision. So it’s a gift that blesses both ways! https://squareup.com/store/sacred-mundane
Forget it, and never forget
Can we intentionally forget something?
I know for certain I can forget things without the slightest bit of intention! It happens every day. But I also know that when I really need to, I can set my mind so purposefully that I won’t forget what’s most important.
Take travel, for instance. When we’re flying with the kids, I’m on my game. Passports and ID in a zipped pocket with boarding passes. Snacks and waterbottles within reach. Electronics charged.
I can focus my mind so that I won’t forget.
I never forget the things I know I can’t live without.
But does it work the other way around?
Can I be just as intentionally TO forget something? Or perhaps the question you’re asking, Why would I want to do that in the first place?
I was struck last week by a simple sentence in Hebrews 10:
I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.
Heb 10:17
I tend to associate forgetfulness with a loss of brain function. Like, anything that’s forgotten is an indication of mental deterioration. But clearly God’s not choosing to be dumber. He’s not deteriorating in the slightest.
He’s choosing to forget what has already been forgiven.
Can we do that?
I’m really asking the question. Do you think that we, who are made in the image of God, can intentionally choose to forget what has already been forgiven? What do you think?
I think we can try. I think we might be surprised how effective our brains are at losing sight of whatever we refuse to give attention to.
Whatever you ignore, you forget.
When Paul exhorts us, “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,” he’s giving us a powerful way to rewire our brains and intentionally focus our attention.
All that rotten, corrupt, twisted, perverse, base stuff out there? Forget it.
In my journal yesterday I wrote, “What do I do with the stuff that drives me crazy?
It was a real question.
And I know I’m walking a fine line here and I’m not saying you just ignore stuff.
But I am saying, maybe just a little bit: Ignore stuff. *smile*
I’m saying that it probably wouldn’t hurt to exercise our made-in-God’s-image-ness and follow His example and practice refusing to call to mind those things that have already been covered by the blood of Jesus. Those things that aren’t excellent and praiseworthy.
Strangely enough, I have found that I can intentionally ignore the things in my house that drive me crazy, and that over time, they don’t bother me anymore.
But again, our minds aren’t a vacuum. I must replace all that discouraging data with other data:
If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Heb. 10:26-27
That’s a terrifying verse, and I certainly don’t know how all this works. But do know that if I KNOW a truth, but intentionally ignore it, so that I can live however I want…I’m in danger.
Lord, help us REMEMBER TRUTH. Help us seek truth and cherish it and hold fast to it and NEVER FORGET what has been revealed to us, by Your grace. Let us lose the hyper-focus on all that makes us miserable and help us hyper-focus on all that YOU HAVE DONE for us.
I wonder what all our brains are capable of, as we yield them fully to God’s commands. It’s clear that “suppressing truth” (intentionally ignoring) leads to delusion, deception, and darkening (Romans 1). Then it seems to follow that focusing, with all our attention, on the truth of God, might help our minds more than anything.
Father, turn our eyes off worthless things, keep us from revisiting whatever would be best forgotten. Guide us into your truth and help us never forget who You are. {Thanks for reading.}