Keep on track

I am not a person who normally stays on top of things. I tend to bounce from one to another. Like a goldfish darting between the bubbles and the plastic, florescent greenery in the tank. There is one thing that I particularly enjoy, it's habits.

Habits are stronger than willpower. I really didn't want to get up early this morning. But I knew that a little bit of exercise would do me good. I didn't want to stay awake while reading my bible on the couch in a comfy, warm blanket. But I knew God wanted to keep in touch with my heart. My willpower is weak, but good habits are like the train tracks for a train. Even on those days when I don't feel like I get much out of them, the habits keep me on track.

I couldn't have established those without the Spirit of God working in me. I couldn't maintain them without the strength of God. There is a neat verse about this in Philippians.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. - Philippians 2:12-13

Wait, who is doing the working? Me or God?

...

The answer is yes. Of course, God does everything to work in us our salvation. Paul stresses that in vs 13. He works my will and my action, my desire and my deeds. He is the one doing it. So he gets all the credit. But one tool he uses is our will. Some call it free will, but that freedom has really been stripped away from us because of sin. Sin keeps us in chains. But Christ frees us again from those chains. He gives me the freedom to establish and maintain the good habits. Those keep me on track.

My willpower is weak. Weaker than I want to admit. But God is stronger than my willpower. God can work in me some good habits to keep me on track.