Last week at Camp Risen Son, one of the leaders reminded us of something that I used to practice: "No Bible, no breakfast." It sounded like a good challenge the first time I heard it, so I did it for a while -- and it definitely worked. I read my Bible every day, or sometimes I didn't have breakfast until two o'clock. (Ironically, it generally got me out of bed in a somewhat more timely manner, too.) But then things came up, and for one reason or another (I don't know which) I stopped reading my Bible before breakfast. Pretty soon, I stopped reading my Bible before lunch...or dinner...or bed. And I've realized that it's led me to a rather unhealthy state. So, I've decided it's time to start again.
I'm not a very disciplined person. I have a lot of good intentions, and I'm good at making lists, but when it comes down to it, laziness wins out a lot more often than I'd like. So if I really want to make something happen, I have to really make it a priority to do it. I've been accused of being rigid, but it's actually because I'm so dreadfully lax -- if something is really important to me, I know I have to set myself some rules and stick by them mercilessly, or it will never become reality. Like writing on this blog at least once a month, for example. You'll notice that I get in about one post a month...usually on the last day of the month. But I've least done that without fail.
I know I'm not the only one muddling through life with long lists of important things buried under piles of urgent stuff that isn't even getting done half the time. People who get up every day with an agenda and go to bed with nothing but check marks are few and far between. For the rest of us, if there's something we want very much to accomplish, like reading our Bibles (which we all know is of utmost value), it may be time to get tough on ourselves. If stiff rules are truly what it takes for you to build and keep a valuable habit, maybe it's time to lock up the fridge and store the key in your Bible. That's not legalism, it's taking control of your own weaknesses. It only becomes legalism when you force your own personally-tailored regimen on others. Only you can decide for yourself what's important enough to take serious action on -- are you ready do what it takes to make it happen?