Consistency and Habits
Two books have come to my attention recently that have similar themes. One is called Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results. The other is The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success. A summary of The Compound Effect is “the strategy of being consistent with smart, tiny choices over time that will produce significant results.”
We are all aware that there is truth in these concepts for life. If we consistently exercise it produces a positive result over time. If we eat healthy it’s the same thing. If we save money it will grow.
I asked my husband recently what he would say is an “atomic” habit that produces a great result over time. His answer surprised me and was, “Being kind.” His mind immediately went to a character quality that produces fruit, or more specifically, spiritual fruit.
The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galations continues that “against such things there is no law.” In a Sunday school class I was in once the teacher asked, “Why do you think there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit?”
A humble, elderly lady replied, “Well, I guess it’s because doing those good things will never cause something bad so we don’t need any laws to keep us from doing them.” I thought that was a great answer!
We all want to have habits and consistent behavior that will produce good results. We may be more successful in some areas than in others. I don’t know if it has ever struck anyone else that the key to all of the fruit of the Spirit is the last one mentioned: self-control. Or maybe a better way to say it is Spirit control. As we submit our spirit more and more to the Holy Spirit we will see a corresponding result.
As I consider what habits or actions lead to the development of these good things in our lives, I am encouraged to know that consistent small things, over time, can be huge. We may feel overwhelmed when we think we need to make an enormous change. But smaller changes that can bring a big result seems more doable. Some examples I’ve read about are: putting $100 a month into savings or an IRA; walking 30 minutes 3-5 days a week; writing/journaling 15 minutes every day; cutting soft drinks from your diet; drinking 8 glasses of water a day; following a yearly Bible reading plan; memorizing a new Bible verse every week; ending each day thanking God for all of the blessings in your life; taking the stairs instead of an elevator when possible; no more fast food; etc. I actually love to hear other people’s good ideas!
It’s also interesting to know that most of our lives are lived by routine. One way of saying it is “Everyday life, daily life, or routine life comprises the ways in which people typically act, think, and feel on a daily basis. Everyday life may be described as mundane, routine, natural, habitual, or normal.” (from Wikipedia) So if we think about this for a minute, most of us will realize we already have habits or consistent ways of doing things. If we want to see some positive changes we might consider what our goals are and set into motion some small changes in habit that will help lead to those things.
I’ve written a blog before about one of those small changes for me that has resulted in this being the fifth year in a row I’m reading through the entire Bible. I also implemented walking regularly into my weekly routine and I write it down in a weekly planner (another new habit) to keep on track. I drink lots more water and have cut coffee back from three cups a day to one with no sugar. And guess what? I’ve seen a positive result in every little change! So I will certainly be considering other ways in which to practice new “atomic habits.”
Proverbs 12:11 “But whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.”
Proverbs 21: 21 “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”
Galations 6: 7-8 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
