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Habits

              I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17:11-12)

             Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11)

             According to the study notes, “protect them by the power” may also be translated as “keep them faithful to” and “protected them and kept them safe by” can be translated “kept them faithful to.”  When we think about being protected, we tend to think in terms of God’s faithfulness in preventing danger or difficulty to us. Jesus seems to be talking about God’s maintaining our faith, which may involve facing many dangers and difficulties.

            But the comforting thing about what Jesus says is that God will protect our faith. We will not be lost, just as the disciples were not lost even though Peter tried to behead someone, all of the disciples ran away, and Peter denied Jesus three times. It’s easy to think that we’ve screwed up so badly that God can’t possibly let it slide this time, but Jesus showed full confidence in the protection He and the Father gave the disciples.

            There’s a meme I tend to enjoy that might be my partial rejection of this. Instead of saying, “God is going to protect me. God is going to bring me through…” I say something along the lines of “God is going to protect me and bring me through, but I have to be dramatic first.” Why do I have to be dramatic first? Is it that I don’t have faith? Is it that I must submit to my emotions?

            As I contemplate this, it comes to mind that it’s a reaction v. response thing, and a flesh v. spirit thing. They are habits, and habits can be changed. And the first step is recognizing when we’re reacting, when the flesh is dominating, and when we’re maintaining a habit we don’t actually want. 

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