The Grind
I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping My commandments and My rules, as he is today.’
1 Chronicles 28:7 ESV
At the time I'm writing this we're already halfway through February. Less than two months ago we were celebrating Christmas and preparing for the new year. The new year brings us fresh hope, new beginnings, and the opportunity to develop new habits. Six weeks into the new year, for many people, those new habits have faded into the mist. Being behind in the reading plan, hitting the snooze button instead of the gym, or not pursuing that opportunity to serve the local body has led people to abandon the effort altogether. Why does this happen? Was the objective unrealistic? No. Did the opportunity disappear? No. Too often, the answer is a lack of willingness to consistently put in the daily work.
Let's face it, when we set the goal we can visualize the benefit, we just don't like to look at the effort needed to make it materialize. In the verse above, King David is sharing with the people of Judah the vision God has cast regarding Solomon. The benefit is clear but there's a requirement. Solomon must remain strong in following God.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8 ESV
Solomon was to follow the same instructions God gave Joshua when the mantle of leadership passed to him from Moses. In fact, God gave Moses these same instructions for the man leading the people which Moses then declared to the generation about to enter the Promised Land.
“And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ESV
We all know what happened when Solomon stopped the daily habits. His kingdom was divided after he passed away, his many foreign wives led him to idolatry, and he realized at the end of his life that all his illusion of worldly success was vanity.
We don't have to experience the same end as Solomon. If we put in the effort each day, the blessing that comes from a life in alignment with the will of God will be ours. If you're behind in your reading plan, pick up your Bible and get going from where you left off. If you're struggling to pray, set a daily reminder on your device that goes to your prayer list. To make sure you stay on track ask someone, who lives the habits you're looking to develop to hold you accountable.
Are you going to be perfect from the get-go? Nope. Are you going to try and make excuses why you can't? Yup. Don't let these stumbling blocks take you out. God has equipped you and the Holy Spirit will encourage you if you submit and do your part. I promise you only good will come from adopting habits that draw you closer to God. It won't be easy at the start, but God promises it will be worth it at the finish.