New Year's Resolutions in January, giving up things for Lent in February and March... it seems like we keep making promises to do things and most of us end up losing sight of the reasons. This year, I set a year of habits for myself instead of making resolutions. I've done a generally good job keeping them at the top of my mind (aside from hurting my foot and not being able to run the last few weeks) but Lent rolled around and my habits came to the forefront again.
With the topic of habits weighing heavily on my mind, I led Church in Bethesda's Ladies Bible Study on Monday by starting with 'What bad habits do you want to leave behind and what good habits can you replace them with?' Instead of just giving up something for Lent, I wanted a replacement to also remind us of why we're doing Lent.
My admitted bad habit was drinking to shut off my brain. I had found myself making a drink when I got home so I wouldn't spend all night working or enjoying a few cocktails at the bar while networking. It didn't work with my healthy lifestyle of running and hitting the gym when I was drinking daily. My solution was to go to the gym or do 10 pushups every time I thought it would be a good idea to drink. Replacing a bad habit with a good one worked really well in this situation.
While replacing drinking with working out was a great solution and my only other idea being to sit in the dark movie theatre watching a movie, I still needed to find time to just be quiet with a quiet mind and listen for God. I'm a talker (even in my head) and just listening for Him is really tough for me.
My solution: a required 15min of soaking per day throughout Lent. Last night was my first soak & I did it to two 8+min versions of How He Loves (Kim Walker Live & David Crowder) to hit my 15min without having to check every 2. Sadly, laying in the dark on my bed still doesn't help me relax. I tried to focus on the words, focus on breathing, focus on listening. I completed the 15min but wasn't really relaxed. Trying again tonight.
The study I led on Monday really made me realize the importance of community with breaking habits. By admitting a bad habit, it allowed another woman to admit she was hiding her smoking and needed help quitting. Because she did this, one younger woman told her that she had struggled with smoking & gave her ideas on taking it one day at a time. Another admitted to not having Christian friends & influences. Yet another talked about her anger with drivers texting and talking on phones and her hope of their getting into an accident. With my admittance, it gave others a safe place to talk & I believe it allowed us to pull together a support community. I've even received encouragement from one of these ladies on twitter after my notice that it's been 6 days at the gym and 5 days without drinking.
Although I'd love to know what you're doing (feel free to comment below), my biggest question for my Lenten Promise: Does anyone have ideas on good soaking songs?
Ever just sit back and wonder how much God loves us? Ever wish you could understand the love He has for us? I've been doing that the last two days. It almost feels like it's not even possible that anyone could ever love us that much.