Fight for It: A 21-Day DevotionalSample

Today’s Devotional:

It’s been said you are what you do. In other words, you are your habits. If this is true, then what should the habits of Christians be?

Answer: What were Jesus’ habits?

For instance, many of you are fasting, but why do we fast? One reason is Jesus did: it was a practice He often did. So, if Jesus did it, we should also, since we are followers of Jesus. That is what spiritual disciplines are, or as I like to call them, spiritual practices. In other words, spiritual practices are practicing (or doing) the things Jesus did, and as we practice them more, they become habits.

But this begs the question, “Why did Jesus do things like fasting, reading Scripture, praying, serving others, etc.?

Jesus did spiritual practices to continually have a close, personal relationship with the Father and keep his spirit strengthened for the daily challenges he would face. Think of it this way, spiritual practices aren’t just things we occasionally do, but they become a way of life–habits–that align us with life in the kingdom of God.

Once again, you are your habits!

For instance, look at Jesus. Luke tells us nine times in his gospel that Jesus withdrew to be alone. In most cases, we’re told he withdrew to pray all night, or in some cases, he started early in the morning and withdrew to pray. We also know Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath “as was his custom” to hear the reading of the word of God and serve others, usually by teaching. Consequently, the Scriptures are clear—Jesus’ habit was to practice these spiritual practices!

Why? I mean He was Jesus—fully God and fully man. But since Jesus was also fully man, while Jesus was here physically, He was determined to live the life the Father willed for him. And to do that, He implemented the spiritual practices daily.

If Jesus thought so highly of the Spiritual practices and made them habits in his life, shouldn’t we?

Experts tell us that it takes roughly 45-90 days to make a habit part of your daily routine. Therefore, which Spiritual practice will you start today, so it’s a habit of yours within the next three months?

Remember, if it was a habit of Jesus, shouldn’t it be one of our habits too?

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Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Randy Allison

Questions:

• Which spiritual practice will you start today to make it a life-long habit?
• What help or changes do you need to make this happen?

A Prayer to ‘Look In’: God, thank you for Jesus and the example He provides for me of living in a manner that pleases you. Help me and empower me to live by implementing His Spiritual practices. I want to do this to grow closer to you and be more like Jesus. In His name, I ask these things. Amen.