The Habitual Ritual - Imperfectly Alive, Perfectly Loved

I have this weird habit of setting control dials to an even number. Although there isn't an official phobia for needing to put them that way, it's often related to a couple of things. It could be a form of numerophobia (a general fear of numbers) or a symptom of OCD, where you feel a strong need for things to seem orderly or balanced. The temperature in my car is set to 72°, not 71 ° or 73 °. I’ll turn the volume on my TV or radio to 16, 18, or 20; never 15, 17, or 19. It’s not that I think I’ll disrupt the space-time continuum or tear the fabric of the universe; I feel more at ease with even numbers. I become vaguely aware of a sense of harmony. Weird, right?

But fortunately, I’m not alone. I’ve realized that humanity is like a grand, slightly out-of-tune orchestra. Each of us is a gifted musician playing a beautiful instrument, but we all have our little tics. We may enter at the wrong time during the piece of music, on the wrong beat. We might play a wrong note because we got distracted by the pretty brunette playing the shiny flugelhorn in the brass section. We all have these propensities, these tendencies, and each of them can be represented to a greater or lesser degree. They're not a sign of failure but a mark of our shared humanity.

Is there good news? Certainly! But it's a good thing we have a Conductor Who is infinitely patient and covers us with His mercy at every missed cue. Let's take a humorous, honest look at some of our most common bad habits, not to condemn, but to celebrate the magnificent grace that meets us right where we are.

Section 1: Procrastination - The Ministry of “Later”

Let me frame procrastination as a spiritual gift gone wrong. The Bible says we are called to “rest in the Lord,” but sometimes we interpret that as “rest from the laundry,” or “rest from cleaning the house.” It’s been said that some develop resting into an art form. However, to my knowledge, they have yet to be featured in any major gallery. Let me offer a procrastinator's prayer: “Lord, give me the strength to do this task... but please, not today.”

These habits can be minor or major, lesser or greater. Here are both sides of the coin for procrastination. The lesser: putting off organizing the spice rack in the kitchen next to the oven. It's alphabetical chaos, but the world will somehow survive. The greater: delaying an apology, putting off a call to a lonely friend, or ignoring the prompting from the Holy Spirit. This is where “later” becomes a thief of blessing.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning..." (Lamentations 3:22-23).

God's grace isn't a deadline; it's a sunrise. Every morning gives us a fresh start, a clean slate to tackle that thing we’ve been avoiding, whether it's the pile of dishes or a difficult conversation.

Section 2: Envy - The Comparison Gremlin

Let me describe this little guy for you. He lives just at the lower edge of your left shoulder blade. He has a very light, not altogether unpleasant voice that says, “Look at their vacation... Look at their perfect children... Look, their dog has more Instagram followers than you.” It's the sacred art of scrolling through vibrant images on your cell phone across multiple social media platforms until your own blessings feel beige. The lesser: a fleeting wish that your lawn looked as good as your neighbor's. The greater: allowing envy to “rot the bones,” leading to bitterness and an inability to rejoice with those who rejoice. Proverbs 14:30, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Tap, tap, tap! Listen up to the Maestro’s baton! We're not all supposed to be playing the same part! God wrote a unique score for each of our lives. Comparing my accordion solo to someone else's violin concerto is pointless. His grace is sufficient for our story, our weaknesses, and our specific part in his grand composition.

Section 3: The Unsolicited Sermon (Being a Know-It-All)

We've all been there: listening to someone else's problems while mentally drafting a five-point homily complete with whiteboard charts, a PowerPoint presentation, and a closing hymn. We have promptly nominated ourselves as the unofficial “expert” on everything from apologetics and hermeneutics to the proper way to load the dishwasher. The lesser: We insist that our GPS route is better than our spouse’s. The greater: We cling to a spirit of pride that refuses to listen, learn, or admit fault. It builds walls where God wants us to build bridges.

"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble" (James 4:6).

I wish to act as my own best friend, a wise and supportive mentor as I write these words: humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less. Grace flows downhill when we show humility. We put ourselves in the perfect position to be flooded with God's favor, wisdom, and mercy. It's OK not to have all the answers. Thank God we know the One who does.

Conclusion: Imperfectly Alive, Perfectly Loved

So, here we are on the other side of a brief and somewhat humorous exploration of human habits. We tend to delay, to cast sideway glances at others, and offer what we consider “helpful” advice. We are, indeed, a peculiar people. But take heart. Look at the big picture. These aren't just isolated flaws; they're symptoms of our shared, fallen nature, and that's precisely why the story of the gospel is so breathtakingly beautiful.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24).

Closing Thought: The Habitual Ritual

Our lives aren't about achieving flawless performance. They are about learning to lean into the Conductor, trusting that His grace will not only cover our mistakes but will arrange them into a masterpiece. He doesn't just tolerate our out-of-tune moments; He redeems them, creating a symphony that is more beautiful and profound than we could ever compose on our own. If you want to develop good habits that will never need breaking, here are three I humbly suggest: laugh at yourself, lean on Him, and live in the freedom of His unending grace and mercy.