Transformative Habits: Aligning with God's Purpose

 

Summary

Reflecting on the words, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it," we delve into the transformative power of habits. Life transformation is deeply intertwined with habit formation, and it's crucial to understand that our habits are not solely about personal betterment. They are about aligning ourselves with God's purpose and serving others. On this day, as we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded that we are part of a greater whole, called to serve God, others, justice, and compassion.

The Bible is rich with teachings on habits, particularly those that direct us towards God and love for others. In the Old Testament, the focus was on caring for the marginalized—aliens, widows, and orphans. These habits were not just for personal gain but to foster a community of love and justice. This is a timely reflection as we consider the legacy of Dr. King, who exemplified these principles through his life and work.

Dr. King's leadership during the Civil Rights Movement was deeply rooted in habits of love, justice, and community. His ability to transcend social and economic barriers, much like the early church, created a powerful movement for change. The habits he cultivated, such as meditating on Jesus' teachings, seeking justice and reconciliation, and practicing non-violence, were instrumental in his mission.

As we consider our own lives, we are encouraged to form habits that connect us with others, especially those different from us. This could mean reaching out to someone in need or simply being curious about someone from a different background. By doing so, we embody the love and justice that Dr. King and Jesus taught.

In conclusion, let us strive to cultivate habits that reflect God's love and justice, remembering that love is indeed habit-forming.

Key Takeaways:

1. Habits Beyond Self-Improvement: Our habits should not be solely about personal gain but about aligning with God's purpose and serving others. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered goals to a community-oriented mindset, fostering love and justice. [01:14]

2. Biblical Habits of Justice: The Bible emphasizes habits that care for the marginalized, such as aliens, widows, and orphans. These practices remind us that our actions should contribute to a community of love and justice, not just personal benefit. [02:07]

3. Community and Connection: Dr. King's success in the Civil Rights Movement was partly due to his ability to connect across social and economic barriers. We are encouraged to form habits that build friendships and connections with those different from us, reflecting the early church's unity. [06:12]

4. Non-Violence and Reconciliation: Dr. King practiced and preached habits of non-violence and reconciliation, seeking justice without seeking victory over others. This approach requires us to cultivate habits of love and peace in our daily interactions. [10:29]

5. Daily Spiritual Practices: Dr. King's daily habits included meditating on Jesus' teachings, praying for God's use, and maintaining spiritual and bodily health. These practices are essential for anyone seeking to live a life of love and justice. [11:24]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:42] - The Power of Habits
- [01:27] - Reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- [01:53] - Biblical Habits of Justice
- [02:43] - Identity and Habits
- [03:31] - Community of Love and Justice
- [04:10] - Rosa Parks and Social Habits
- [05:05] - Forming Habits of Connection
- [06:30] - Transcending Social Barriers
- [07:22] - Leaning into Differences
- [08:16] - Responding with Love
- [09:14] - New Habits for New Responses
- [09:56] - Martin Luther King's Rule of Life
- [11:24] - Love is Habit Forming
- [11:43] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
2. Deuteronomy 24:17-22 - Instructions on justice and care for the marginalized, including aliens, widows, and orphans.

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Psalm 118:24 suggest about our daily attitude and perspective? How does this relate to the idea of habit formation? [00:42]

2. In Deuteronomy 24:17-22, what specific habits are instructed for the Israelites regarding the marginalized? How do these habits reflect a community-oriented mindset? [02:07]

3. How did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s habits of love, justice, and community contribute to his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement? [03:43]

4. What role did social networks and community groups play in the success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, as described in the sermon? [04:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "This is the day the Lord has made" influence the way individuals might approach habit formation in their daily lives? [00:42]

2. In what ways do the habits described in Deuteronomy 24:17-22 challenge modern-day believers to think beyond personal gain and focus on community welfare? [02:07]

3. How might Dr. King's practice of non-violence and reconciliation be applied in current social justice movements? What challenges might arise in adopting these habits today? [10:29]

4. How can the example of Rosa Parks and her extensive social connections inspire individuals to build diverse and inclusive relationships in their own communities? [06:12]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current habits. Are there any that primarily focus on personal gain rather than serving others? How might you shift these habits to align more with God's purpose? [01:14]

2. Consider the marginalized groups in your community today. What specific actions can you take to support them, inspired by the habits outlined in Deuteronomy 24:17-22? [02:07]

3. Dr. King meditated daily on the teachings of Jesus. What specific time each day can you dedicate to meditating on scripture or prayer to cultivate a habit of spiritual growth? [10:11]

4. Think of someone from a different background than yours. What steps can you take this week to reach out and form a connection with them, following the example of Rosa Parks? [07:09]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of non-violence and reconciliation into your daily interactions, especially in situations of conflict or disagreement? [10:29]

6. Identify a habit of love or justice that you would like to cultivate in your life. What is one practical step you can take this week to begin forming this habit? [11:24]

7. Reflect on a recent situation where you responded with anger or frustration. How might you have responded differently if you had cultivated habits of love and peace? [08:16]

Devotional

Day 1: Habits Aligned with God's Purpose
Our habits should not be solely about personal gain but about aligning with God's purpose and serving others. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centered goals to a community-oriented mindset, fostering love and justice. When we cultivate habits that reflect God's love, we become instruments of His peace and justice in the world. This means that our daily actions, no matter how small, can contribute to a larger purpose that transcends our individual lives. By focusing on serving others and aligning our habits with God's will, we can experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and joy. [01:14]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one habit you can change today to better align with God's purpose and serve others in your community?


Day 2: Justice for the Marginalized
The Bible emphasizes habits that care for the marginalized, such as aliens, widows, and orphans. These practices remind us that our actions should contribute to a community of love and justice, not just personal benefit. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly calls His people to care for those who are often overlooked or oppressed. This call to justice is not just a suggestion but a command to live out our faith in tangible ways. By forming habits that prioritize the needs of the marginalized, we reflect God's heart for justice and compassion in our world. [02:07]

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." (Zechariah 7:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is marginalized or in need, and how can you develop a habit of serving them this week?


Day 3: Building Bridges Across Barriers
Dr. King's success in the Civil Rights Movement was partly due to his ability to connect across social and economic barriers. We are encouraged to form habits that build friendships and connections with those different from us, reflecting the early church's unity. By reaching out to those who are different from us, we can break down walls of division and create a more inclusive and loving community. This requires intentionality and a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones, but the rewards of such connections are profound and transformative. [06:12]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone from a different background or social group. How can you reach out to them this week to build a meaningful connection?


Day 4: Practicing Non-Violence and Reconciliation
Dr. King practiced and preached habits of non-violence and reconciliation, seeking justice without seeking victory over others. This approach requires us to cultivate habits of love and peace in our daily interactions. By choosing non-violence and reconciliation, we can address conflicts and injustices in a way that honors God and promotes healing. This means actively seeking to understand others, forgiving those who have wronged us, and working towards peaceful resolutions in all areas of our lives. [10:29]

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a conflict or disagreement in your life. How can you approach it with a spirit of non-violence and reconciliation today?


Day 5: Daily Spiritual Practices for Love and Justice
Dr. King's daily habits included meditating on Jesus' teachings, praying for God's use, and maintaining spiritual and bodily health. These practices are essential for anyone seeking to live a life of love and justice. By dedicating time each day to spiritual disciplines, we can strengthen our relationship with God and be better equipped to serve others. These practices help us to remain grounded in our faith and focused on the mission of love and justice that God has called us to. [11:24]

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2, ESV)

Reflection: What daily spiritual practice can you commit to this week to deepen your relationship with God and enhance your ability to serve others?

Quotes

"Somehow, we're learning about habits and how life transformation is really habit formation, and starting out each day reflecting on those words, making that a habit, and then looking at the habits in our lives and how does God want to change them. Now it's very tempting for people to think that my habits are about me and that they're this powerful tool so that I can get my body into shape and diet and exercise and finance and job and time and then I can be a sleeper a sleeker uh thinner more successful version of myself and have a better life. No, no, no, no, no, no, our habits are not about ourselves, our lives are not about ourselves." [00:37:86]

"We are part of a greater whole. We want to be people who are able to be of service to God and of service to other people, a service to Justice and compassion, and in fact, in the Bible, this is what we see. The Bible is very largely a book about habits, all kinds of habits in them, but they're constantly pointing people to God and toward love of others. In our day, lots of work's done around three little words that you might know, Dei, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The little acronym in the Old Testament was aliens, widows, and orphans. Those were the marginalized, those were the people that were most at risk." [00:89:04]

"So a good deal of habit formation in the Old Testament was aimed at producing people that would bring Justice and compassion to folks on the margins, not just about me. So listen to these habits of the Old Testament: don't deprive the alien fatherless of Justice or the or take the cloak of the Widow as a pledge when you're involved in Financial transactions. You give somebody a loan, often you would get something back from them as they promise that they would pay you back, not with the Widow, you don't take your cloak so that you would be left defenseless or cold. You don't do that, that was a habit." [00:125:04]

"Remember you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there, that's why I command you to do this. We'll talk in the future about the connection between identity and habits. Deuteronomy goes on when you're harvesting in your field and you overlook a Sheaf do not go back to get it, leave it for the alien, the fatherless, and the Widow so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. This was to be a habit at Harvest Time." [00:159:12]

"So the habit formation among God's people was not simply to be for the sake of the Habit formers, although it is for us too, it was to create a community of love and justice, and now it's worth thinking about that on this weekend. This is quite extraordinary to me, this book by Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit, has one entire chapter on Martin Luther King and the role of habits in the formation of community." [00:203:15]

"When Rosa Parks was arrested, it triggered a series of social habits, the habits of friendship that ignited an initial protest. Parks' membership in dozens of social networks across Montgomery allowed her friends to muster a response before the community's normal apathy could take hold. Montgomery's Civil Life at the time was dominated by hundreds of small groups that created the city's social fabric. Networks were always that way. Every adult, it seemed, particularly every black adult, belonged to some kind of Club, Church, social group, Community Center, neighborhood organization, and often more than one." [00:258:41]

"Rosa Parks' friends, in contrast, spanned Montgomery's social and economic hierarchies. She had what sociologists call strong ties, first-hand relationships with dozens of groups throughout Montgomery that usually did not come into contact with each other. Rosa Parks transcended the social stratifications of the black community in Montgomery as a whole. She was friends with field hands and college professors, and in this, she was really a reflection of that early church that tore down the dividing wall of hostility and created Oneness." [00:358:56]

"Take the opportunity, look for the opportunity to lean into somebody who's different than you. If you come, maybe it'll be somebody who, when you're driving, they need money, um, somebody on the sidewalk, somebody worth it from a different background. Just be curious, just lean in, ask God to help you to form the habit of connecting with people who you would, in the Flesh, otherwise not connect with." [00:418:25]

"King began to speak to them about responding in love. Now that's not a natural instinct when somebody bombs your house, and when people hate your race. It came out of habits that had been cultivated by him. King, this is what Duhigg writes, cast the boycott in a new and different light. This was not just about equality on bus, as King said, it was part of God's plan, the same destiny that had ended British colonialism and into India in slavery in the United States and had caused Christ to die on the cross so that he could take away our sins." [00:500:09]

"People could show their allegiance by adopting the new habits King was evangelizing about. We must meet love with hate, and so churches began to hold Mass meetings every week, sometimes every night. Duhigg writes, much like Alcoholics Anonymous, which draws power from group meetings where addicts learn new habits and start to believe by watching others demonstrate their faith, so Montgomery's citizens gained a new life and a new set of habits from meeting together and from the teachings in particular of Martin Luther King based on the teachings of Jesus." [00:548:94]

"These were habits that King practiced each day, and that he invited other people to reflect on news, so you might listen to this and think what's one of these habits that you would like to cultivate. This is Martin Luther King Jr: meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus. Now what a good thing that is to do. Remember always that the non-violent movement seeks Justice and Reconciliation, not victory, and to live with that, to be after not victory over other people but Justice and Reconciliation." [00:596:52]

"Pray daily, and this is a daily habit now, to be used by God in order that all might be free, and you might think about your name when might I pray that prayer. Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy, seek to perform regular service for others and the world, and again that just becomes a habit. Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, or heart, and then finally strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health." [00:638:70]

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Transcript
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