Recent studies show that it takes, on average, 66 days for a new behavior to become a habit . . . not the traditional 21 days that became an easy catch-phrase and seemed reasonably attainable. Think about it. The goal isn’t to get to 66 days or even to 21—the goal is for the desired action to become automatic.

For example, most of us have a favorite hot drink and we don’t have to think twice about having a cup before work, or on our way, or while there. We may even have a cup or two on the weekends. How many days or years we have been doing this never crosses our minds—we just do it.

Now, if we choose something that takes more effort, like exercise or getting in a walk, it becomes more challenging, simply by the nature of the activity. It’s not always easy or convenient, not to mention other variables, like bad weather, sick kids, or an extremely busy schedule. It’s easier to grab the latte, but not more advantageous. It takes effort and if you miss a day, don’t quit, just be sure to get back to it tomorrow.

First, we must decide that something is important to us or we won’t put in the effort that’s required to make it a part of our daily routine.

Now, let’s look at how this can be incorporated into our lives as Christians. The church is losing the fight to secular humanism, in part because people don’t read the Bible for themselves. This is a problem because when they hear something that sounds good, it could be contrary to God’s Word and they wouldn’t even know it.

The term Dark Ages doesn’t refer to cavemen or the time before the invention of the lightbulb. It was a period in history when the Light of the Gospel had all but gone out. The scriptures were not written out in the common language and Bibles weren’t available. The people had to trust that the clergy were rightly presenting the Word of God, which too often was not the case.

Jump ahead a few centuries.  We call ourselves enlightened, and yet things are getting darker in society. It’s time for God’s people to wake up and form a new habit: read your Bible every single day. Don’t rely on a daily devotional, the preacher on TV or the radio—read it for yourselves. Study it and know what it says. Then you’ll be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Start small, read today and again tomorrow. It won’t be long before you’ve read the Bible every day for a week. The cool thing is, the more we read, the more we’ll want to read. We’ll even start feeling better, it’s like spiritual calisthenics. Eventually, we won’t  want to miss a day. Little by little and day by day, we’ll get to 21 days. Before we know it, to another 21, and eventually to the desired goal of making it a habit! God’s Word will become a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Deut 6:5-9  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these Words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Knowing God’s Word is of utmost importance! We need its wisdom in order to represent Him well in every area of life. Please join me in reading the Bible every single day! It’s a habit worth making! If you need help, encourage a friend to join you and be accountable to each other. Amen.

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