Devotionals

Hampering Habits

by Anne Adams
09/10/24
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

During the American Revolution the colonial army lacked the proper battlefield training, so to correct this General George Washington and other officials employed Prussian army officer Baron Wilhelm Von Steuben. He was to instruct and form the Americans into a disciplined, professional fighting force; upon his arrival in 1778 he set to work. Including bayonet training.

Though muskets were the primary weapon on battlefields at the time occasionally soldiers relied on their bayonets if hand to hand fighting was necessary. However, Americans were often untrained how to use the bayonet in battle and sometimes had developed the habit of using them in camp as food skewers or as a tool. In short they had developed some hampering habits which they had to change and with Von Steuben’s training they did.

In our passage as Paul gives detailed advice to young Timothy as to the right habits for a young Christian and part of that was what he shouldn’t do. “Flee youthful lusts...” he says, and then continues with advice as what they should do. You might say Paul is suggesting they drop the wrong habits and embrace the right ones.

Unfortunately, many of us today also have hampering habits that prevent our truly following and serving the Lord. These practices of course vary quite a bit and can be worrisome, but there’s actually good news to this. Because like the American soldiers when we drop the hampering habits we may see victory in our Christian walk.

Do you tend to worry? Read I Peter 5:7. Do you feel God has become too distant? Read I Chronicles 16:11-12. Feel the bondage of past sins you’ve confessed? Read John 8:36.

Of course the Scriptures are replete with information to point out and also assist us in dropping the hampering habits and acquiring the right ones. And with that done we can then step out to truly serve him – for our benefit and his glory.