Habitual or Ritual

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

I'd like to think I am more than a weekend warrior - just attending church and then forgetting about the pursuit of God's best for my life the rest of the week. Sadly, there are far too many Christians who are weekend warriors. They attend church regularly, but their lives are kind of devoid of much in the way of 'substance' when it comes to study of the Word of God, time in prayer, or even looking after the needs of others as scripture reminds us of is so important. The Apostle Paul puts it very well - this is no weekend war - it is a life-long, active, full-engaged investment of ourselves into the pursuit of all things godly.

Before anyone goes off on me and tells me I am being a little too 'churchy' or 'preachy', let me just say this type of pursuit doesn't look at all 'religious'. In fact, when we pursue God with our full heart and mind, the 'religious' stuff isn't all that evident. What is evident is a shift in our focus - our attitude changes and we begin to manifest different choices. Not in a 'preachy' or 'better-than-thou' kind of way, but through loving actions, gentle words, and benevolent giving of ourselves. We don't have to carry our Bible around with us, reading it at every break we have in our day. We can 'carry his Word' around with us, though - in our hearts and minds - repeatedly meditating upon what we have read earlier in the day until it sinks in, brings change where needed, and directs our steps. 

If someone were to tell you that going without water, food, and rest for your body would eventually lead to your death, would you continue down that path? Not likely! You'd belly up to the table, begin eating regularly, and adjust your water intake to bring life back to your body as quickly as possible. So, why is it we have such a hard time 'bellying up to the table' when it comes to a regular 'diet' of God's Word, or taking time to think upon it for the value it could add to our lives? It is quite plain to see there is a force at work that wants to keep us from the pursuit. It isn't just our own 'laziness' that keeps us away from those regular and consistent times, it is the distractions of this life that Satan intends to use to waylay us!

The primary thing we need is determination to engage in the pursuit of the things God asks of us - taking in his Word, meditating upon it, worshipping him, and reaching out to a hurting world. It begins with sitting down, taking in, then allowing it to begin to 'digest' within us. As it does, we soon begin to discover our priorities change little by little, until one day, the 'pursuit' is no longer difficult - it is habitual. Just sayin!