“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6
We are people of habit, particularly if you are connected to the military. Those currently serving, retired, or a family member who supports a military member have been taught or witnessed routines and practices designed to ensure our military can react to various circumstances. These routines have also facilitated the development of behaviours that most likely overflow into home life, creating routines that allow families to be ready for school, work, and household responsibilities.
Habits are not bad, especially when not at our emotional or physical peak. Things need to be done, so years of developing habits keep us on our toes. However, in 2025, some habits ruin our free will to choose what we want and need to do. Social media addiction, regardless of our age, interferes with our God-intended ability to live in harmony with one another, to break bread, support, encourage and even talk with one another. We must be careful not to let certain habits cause us to be so self-focused that we would miss opportunities to be blessed or bless others.
We can enjoy the blessings of the world and laugh at the things on FACEBOOK, TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, etc., but we should be cautious that these sound bites don’t prevent us from making eye contact and being the Light Jesus invites us to be. Business entraps us into antisocial habits where we are too busy to lift our heads to see the world around us. We don’t see the broken, the poor, the widows, the prisoners or the sick. We can quickly become self-focused if we only find joy and relaxation in scrolling.
What can we do to take the focus off ourselves? As the song shares, we need to Turn our eyes upon Jesus. Try starting your day with prayer and giving praise to God. If you are uncertain what to say, try reading/praying a Psalm at the start of your day. Consider Psalms 110, 50, 30, or Psalm 23, to list a few.
I am confident if you start and even end your day praising God, you will be blessed and find that hope, peace, love and joy God wants to give you.