Encouraging a habit is technically very simple. Hold all the variables steady and reinforce the behavior you want.
My Mother told me, “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. Psychologists tell us behavior that is reinforced is more likely to be repeated than behavior that is ignored or criticized.
Paul tells us. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (11 Corinthians 9:6 NKJ) Since the average Christian prays for three minutes a day and the typical Sunday morning church service contains less than five minutes of prayer, we are obviously reinforcing the wrong things.
Many years ago while travelling, I saw a waitress give a young couple their bill and apologize for interrupting them while they prayed. I picked up my bill, congratulated the couple for praying before they ate and asked if I could pay their bill. They didn’t disagree so; I paid their bill. They didn’t know my name and I didn’t know theirs. I didn’t know their particular denominational color and they didn’t know mine. That doesn’t matter. My only goal was to encourage them for doing the right thing.
I love to encourage people for doing the right thing. Over the years I have paid for a few meals when I’ve noticed people pray before eating in restaurants. In his book, How to Lead and Still have a life, Dale Burke asks, “What is it that is impossible to do today…that if you could do it, it would revolutionize your…world?” Do you believe we can change our world one prayer at time? I do!
Can you relate to the great prayer warriors, Brainerd, Mueller and Bounds who started each day with two and three hours of prayer? Or, do you even bother to pray in restaurants? You should! Someday, somewhere, someone may buy you a meal, but more importantly, you will help change our world one prayer at a time.
Leadership is changing our world, one prayer at a time.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group