In January I listened to a series of short video devotionals from JohnOrtberg on the whole notion of habit formation. It seemed like a good way to anchor the year. I’m guessing that you, just like me, tend to think about building new habits at the beginning of a new year, ones that we hope will last longer than just a few weeks. One practice I am somewhat faithful in is starting my day with Mark, coffee, and God. Ortberg always bookended every ten-minute reflection with two phrases, beginning with, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) and ending with “Love is habit forming.”
A few weeks ago, I decided to belt out Psalm 118:24 in song from my bedside while Mark was downstairs. Let’s just say, it’s easy to have that song stuck in your brain for a long time! I must admit that I haven’t gained “habit status” in reciting the verse daily, as it doesn’t automatically come to the forefront of my mind each morning when I wake up. I’m usually already downstairs before I remember that, yes, every day is the Lord’s Day and He deserves praise, no matter what is happening around me or to me. What does often come to mind, however, are the worries from the previous day or plans for the day ahead, or the dreaded discouragement that insomnia sometimes brings. If the “what-if’s” and “if-only’s” swing back and forth like a pendulum during the night, I wake up tired, not energized and refreshed. I sometimes begin the day forgetting that God created it and me for His praise. And sometimes I reach for my phone as the first orientation of the day.
Have you been there too? It’s easy to go to a place of shame about it when it comes to habit formation, especially if you feel you already “flunked Lent” by not following through on a commitment you made to give something up. Shame loves to communicate “You’re weak, a failure, faithless, uncommitted, lack willpower, etc.”
I think the book of Zechariah has a foundational truth to lovingly teach us when it comes to new beginnings and building new habits, especially as it relates to the way we approach Lent. Yes, Zechariah of all books! What a disorienting and exciting time for the Israelites! They were finally able to return to Jerusalem after being under Babylonian captivity for 70 years. Zerubbabel, a descendent of David, born during captivity, was tasked with laying the foundation of the new temple. Zechariah, a prophet during that time, had a series of strange dreams, none of which I fully understand, but essentially the message from God seemed to be this: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” They were not to “despise the day of small things.”For example, the new temple would be smaller than the first glorious one built by Solomon, and many of the older priests and Levites, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of the new temple being laid(Ezra 3:12). What stood out to me in Zechariah was this: The rebuilding in Jerusalem, as well as all other new beginnings, would come about through repentance(1:3-6). Repentance meant the people needed to come to their senses and reorient their thinking toward God again. The word that God spoke to Zerubbabel through Zechariah is an oft-quoted verse we use today: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.” (4:6) Ironically, we can get kind of puffed up when we recite that Scripture, especially if we are pushing our own agenda and narrative!
It helps to reframe this passage in Zechariah in the broader context of what was happening historically and spiritually: The people of God had not been listening or paying attention to God for the past 70 years! (1:4) If you read the entire book of Zechariah, you see the pattern over and over: the people“refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.” (7:11) God’s message was clear: “I am God; you are not. Return to me and I will return to you.”I don’t think God is saying, “Get your act together, and then I will pay attention to you.” That would just reinforce the myth of religious fulfillment; that somehow God changes His level of love for us based on our outward expressions (or lack thereof) of adoration for Him. I think His mindset is captured beautifully in the parable of the prodigal son: He is the loving father who has been ever-present and waiting, and He can’t wait to run down the driveway once He sees His disheveled pig pen-stained son or daughter! (Luke 15:20) In this passage God gives us His sign of wooing: Return to me and I will return to you.
I chose the photo above because Jesus endured the rough road of the cross for our redemption, He loves us that much. The pathway in this life for us is often uneven, rocky, and hard. His compassionate heart woos us to Himself because He understands suffering.
God woos us daily to make small surrenders to Him. Each time I don’t pay attention, turn my back or cover my ears to God’s best habits of love and wholeness, I am denying His best version of myself. When I start and end my day listening in attentiveness to God’s voice, I am reorienting my way back to where good habits are built and formed, and, instead of shame, I hear Him say, “Return to me, and I will return to you.” These are kind and comforting words from the One who freely offers forgiveness. Gently and tenderly, He settles us down and reorients our wayward hearts toward Love, which is habit-forming.
What kinds of habits have you been forming during this season? Be encouraged that God is always attentive to us, ever wooing us to Himself.
I’ll close with a short prayer from Richard Rohr’s Lent book, Wondrous Encounters:
“Good God, keep me forever inside of your abundant and generous flow of mercy toward me, through me, in me, and from me.” AMEN.
Photo by Migle Siauciulyte on Unsplash
