I floss my teeth every night. It is simple enough to do now, but it was a habit that I was not ever able to start until my 40’s. I knew it was good, the dentist told me every time I saw them, “you should be flossing every day.” But it was a hard habit to build. I would do it for a few days and eventually quit. I finally started with those flosser/toothpick combination things. Somehow, they just made it easier. Every day for a year: floss, brush, mouthwash. The last time I went to the dentist she encouraged switching to dental floss as it gets around the tooth better – and so I have made the switch. I admit that some nights I just want to go to bed. But I cannot, not until I floss and brush my teeth first.
Good habits are ways we achieve goals. I want to be healthier, so I built the habit of flossing. I built the habit of eating better food choices (more fruits and vegetables and less dessert and junk foods). And sometimes habits have a way of lining up with other things in life. For example, part of being healthier was walking more, and my children want to walk to school every day. Two birds, one stone.
Many people want to build the habit of daily devotions. In my pastoral experience I find that many start in the deep end instead of building up. “I’m going to read through the entire Bible this year!” It is a wonderful goal…and then you hit the books of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Proverbs. Books of the Bible that can be rather dry, dense, repetitive, or all the above. I often tell people that the Book of Ecclesiastes is wonderful, just do not read it in the middle of winter.
If you desire to build the habits of spiritual discipline this year, start small and build from there. In this way you will make your goals attainable. If you want to read through the Bible, try using the 2-year lectionary reading plan found in the Lutheran Service Book. Use a Bible app that allows you to listen to the words while you read them, engaging more of your senses. Talk with your family about what you read, try to summarize it or tell it in a way that young children can understand. Spiritual disciplines should not be done in isolation but should draw us deeper into our vocations.
Which brings us to evangelism. I would love if every Christian would tell others about Jesus. Talking about faith can be intimidating. Where do you begin? How do you witness while being respectful of others? How do you go from rarely talking about faith in Jesus to full on spiritual conversations with family, friends, and strangers? The answer is to start small. First, begin a habit of a daily devotion (preferably with your family if possible). The daily devotional could be reading through the Bible, Portals of Prayer, a section of the Small Catechism, etc. Fill up on the good things of God and you will find yourself overflowing with His word. Next, make a habit of praying before every meal whether at home or somewhere else. Get into this habit and then expand upon it. Is someone telling you about problems, anxiety, stress, or situation? Ask to pray with them right there on the spot, after all, if you have been doing a daily devotional with family you have probably already gotten into the habit of praying for others and their needs. Once you feel comfortable with that habit, stop asking people how they are and start asking people how it is with their soul? And that is it.
It sounds simple enough. But like flossing or being healthier, it is a habit built upon time, repetition, and small achievable steps.
Praying you have a wonderful 2026,
Pastor Ross, Evangelism Executive
