tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post4838479648169643970..comments2023-07-25T03:42:59.018-04:00Comments on Unfolding freedom: Habitualism - Part 1Bino M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-3844982525968222662008-07-15T10:15:00.000-04:002008-07-15T10:15:00.000-04:00Joel,Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's intere...Joel,<BR/>Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's interesting that you mentioned about the night time prayer. Thats exactly our story as well. At some point it became something like brushing your teeth every day. Something you have to do. If you don't do it, you don't feel good. So for a long time we dragged it, unable to really stop. Now we completely stopped it. But whenever we feel a need in the spirit to pray, we will pray and that prayer is much meaningful and heart felt. I do kind of the same thing with my kids such telling about Jesus when opportunity comes, asking them questions and encouraging them to ask questions.<BR/>We could teach them all nice prayers, spiritual disciplines, gospel songs and all, but if they don't know Jesus on a personal level, what good is it for them?<BR/><BR/>Emotional habits in churches... I have seen those literally in front of my eyes and I was also a victim of the same. Thank God, he showed me the truth of His love and grace,..Bino M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1529625177060889765.post-60331974161492669172008-07-13T18:43:00.000-04:002008-07-13T18:43:00.000-04:00Wow... great stuff about your history. I mean, no...Wow... great stuff about your history. I mean, not "great," but interesting to know about your religious history. I was never in the Catholic church but not that you mention it I can remember various 'habits' I picked up along the way as well. Various words or gestures to God that made me feel a little better about myself even though I really didn't know Him at all!<BR/><BR/>This is such an important thing to bring up, and I'm glad you brought it up here. I think many people do a lot of "religious" things or have various habits that make them feel more at peace in life but yet don't know the living God.<BR/><BR/>Our nighttime prayers with the kids have been somewhat like that. Simply repeating prayers and songs but not really knowing Jesus. I've gotten out of that way of doing things and I generally approach bedtime a little differently each time, talking to the kids, asking them questions, letting them talk, asking them what's on their minds and hearts, etc, instead of just repeating the same habitual words, and letting them know that God is always with them and in them, and it's not just something we do at night. It can so easily become a ritual.<BR/><BR/>Emotional habits are another big one that I think slips right under the radar in churches. There are many ways that people get caught up in emotions, and they develop the 'habit' of doing things to make those emotions rise up again and again, and as you say they mistake them for manifestations of God. I think there are entire church services that are built around habits like this.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, great post. Looking forward to more!Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.com