“Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD” (Deuteronomy 33:29)

People who say the Christian life makes people miserable, have never experienced the truth that sets men free. They may have, dabbled with religion, but if they had been saved, they’d know it. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Every saint started out as a sinner. “We ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:3-5).

But how do you maintain your first love? By developing the right habits for Christ. Studies have shown if you do something faithfully for six weeks, it becomes a habit.

Read Scripture. It’s better to read five minutes per day for six weeks than to read 210 minutes in one sitting every six weeks.

Morning Devotion. Read Scripture for 2 ½ minutes. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit will quicken a passage that you can meditate on all through the day. Ask Christ to direct your path and show you what He wants you to do. Ask Him for Divine appointments to share the truth with people you meet. Pray for the people He  brings to your mind.

Evening Devotion. After 2 ½ minutes of Scripture, recount the events of the day. Be honest with Christ about how well you obeyed what you were led to do. Pray for the people He brings to your mind and resolve to do better the next day. If you have a bad time sleeping, read more Scripture before you sleep. The more Scripture you read, the better your sleep. For more on this subject, click here.

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