In the last 3 blog posts we have been talking habits and how they impact our reactions and responses. If you have not had a chance to read through those blog posts, click here to read through them.
We are going to end this series on habits by talking about how our habits impact our results. For Peter, John, and the other apostles, there were 3 results that arose from their habitual response to being imprisoned:
-
God answered their prayers (Acts 4:31)
-
Unity was strengthened (Acts 4:32, 34-37)
-
The Gospel message was spread (Acts 4:33)
Now you might be wondering if these results were habitual (expected) results or was this just a one-time outcome. Let's look back at the first four chapters of Acts:
-
Acts 1:26 - God chose Matthias (Judas' replacement) - answered prayer.
-
Acts 2:1-4 - The Holy Spirit came just as Jesus said He would - answered prayer.
-
Acts 2:44-47 - Unity grew within the early church - unity grew.
-
Acts 3:36 - A lame man was healed - answered prayer.
There is strong evidence that the apostle's habitual reactions and responses directly impacted habitual results. They proclaimed God's Word with boldness. They were of one heart and mind to the extent that none of them considered or claimed anything as their own. They continually talked about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. AND the result of all of this was that ABUNDANT GRACE was on all of them.
Think back on a negative experience in your life over the last month. What was the result of how you reacted and responded? Was the result answered prayers? If not, why not? Was the result great unity with Christian brothers and sisters? Was the result an opportunity to share the Gospel? Would you use the phrase "abundant grace" to summarize the result? What was the result?
When we habitually react and respond to the struggles of life in the manner of the apostles, we can expect to see results that reflect what the apostles came to expect. I realize that you might be reading this thinking, "Ben, I have been reading these blogs as someone who struggles with addiction hoping that somehow this would lead me away from my addiction. This just seems like ultra spiritual living, not addiction free living. How does this apply to my life?" I'm glad that you asked that because in the next blog we are going to look at a case study to see just how habitual reactions, responses, and results directly relate to the life of an addict. Check back in next week to see what that looks like.
In the meantime, click here to check out the following helpful growth assignment to help you get into the habit of reacting to (thinking about) and responding (living) to the hardships of life so that you can expect habitual results. I'd love to get some feedback from you on this. Feel free to email me at bmarshall@freedomthatlasts.com. God bless.
Ben Marshall
