By: Victor Beshir
Before year end, many people write resolutions for the New Year to achieve certain goals that could lead to personal satisfactions. Yet, after the New Year starts, these resolutions gradually disappear and life never changes to better.
Behavioral psychology set the rules to change a habit or to start a new habit. Briefly, you need to practice or repeat the new habit for six months at certain times. Afterwards, this new behavior becomes a habit. Same rules were discovered 1500 years ago by the Desert Fathers who insist on concentrating on applying only one new habit a year. As one of the Fathers says, "Let's learn this year humbleness or meekness, or whatever you need to master." Then, they establish a disciplined daily routine to enforce daily repetitions regardless of mode, conditions, or even health status. This is how our Fathers became masters in all spiritual virtues.
Where to start? The Fathers say, "A person without prayers is a dead person." So, the beginning of spiritual life is a continuation of a prayful life. To make prayer a part of your daily routine, establish a time to pray regardless of your physical condition and give it priority number one for that time. Start by reading from the Bible to meditate in a few verses, following by a touching hymn, then pray. It is a great idea to add Agpya to your prayer. The best way to establish the habit of praying with Agpya is to start small and once it becomes a habit add more psalms.
Behavioral psychology set the rules to change a habit or to start a new habit. Briefly, you need to practice or repeat the new habit for six months at certain times. Afterwards, this new behavior becomes a habit. Same rules were discovered 1500 years ago by the Desert Fathers who insist on concentrating on applying only one new habit a year. As one of the Fathers says, "Let's learn this year humbleness or meekness, or whatever you need to master." Then, they establish a disciplined daily routine to enforce daily repetitions regardless of mode, conditions, or even health status. This is how our Fathers became masters in all spiritual virtues.
Where to start? The Fathers say, "A person without prayers is a dead person." So, the beginning of spiritual life is a continuation of a prayful life. To make prayer a part of your daily routine, establish a time to pray regardless of your physical condition and give it priority number one for that time. Start by reading from the Bible to meditate in a few verses, following by a touching hymn, then pray. It is a great idea to add Agpya to your prayer. The best way to establish the habit of praying with Agpya is to start small and once it becomes a habit add more psalms.
Happy Blessed New Year.
In Christ,
Victor Beshir
In Christ,
Victor Beshir
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