In the previous blog post, I talked about the importance of habits regarding our reactions to differing unexpected circumstances. Our habit of meeting with one another is established over a period of time as we consistently move toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. If that's not a habit when times are normal, that will not be your response when the abnormal unexpected situations of life show up. Here's a link to that post if you haven't read it yet.
Habits, however, not only impact our reactions to unexpected events, but they also impact our responses to unexpected events. As soon as Peter and John were released from jail, they ran to their community. What did they do when they were with their people, their tribe, their community? They prayed...and prayed hard. They remembered God and quoted His Words. So, what was their habitual response? They REMEMBERED God's Word and PRAYED (Acts 4:24-31)!
If you're wondering if this was really a habit of Peter and John, take a look at the following examples from the first chapters of Acts:
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Acts 2:14 - They prayed.
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Acts 2:20 - They quoted Scipture.
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Acts 2:24 - They prayed when they needed a replacement for Judas.
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Acts 2:17-21 - They quoted Scripture.
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Acts 2:25-28 - They quoted Scripture.
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Acts 2:34-35 - They quoted Scripture.
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Acts 3:22 - They quoted Scripture.
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Acts 3:25 - They quoted Scripture.
When the Apostles were faced with unexpected situations, their reaction was to pray and quote Scripture, i.e. remember what God had said and promised.
So, what's your immediate response when you are face with unexpected diagnoses, relational disruptions, financial losses, or any other situation that send most people into a tailspin? For those struggling with addictions of all sorts of reactions including drinking, smoking, shooting, using, viewing, isolating...and that's just to name a few.
What do you need to start doing to make your habits reflect the habits of Peter, John, and the other apostles? Maybe it's just getting familiar with Scripture. If so, here's a link to 26 Scriptures that you should get VERY familiar with even memorize. Maybe it's praying. If so, gather one or two people around you (ask them) and ask them to join you WEEKLY for prayer. Gathering together could be in person or online. Wherever you decide to meet, make it a weekly habit so that when the unexpected circumstances of life show up, you already have a habit of going to God in prayer and being reminded of who He is and what He has promised in His Word. New habits are hard to make when tough times show up so get busy making new habits now.
In the next blog, we will look at what the apostles focused on during their times of prayer. Make sure to check back in for that insight so that you can continue to hone your new habits that help you respond in a new way when the tough times come. Until then, God bless.
Ben Marshall
