You Are What You Love.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:12–16)

I am reading a really good book about Christian formation (a.k.a. discipleship) written by James K. A. Smith titled You Are What You Love. In it, Smith says spiritual formation centers more on the habits and virtues of the heart than it does on the data crammed into the brain. This is no excuse for a lazy mind, but rather a reminder that Jesus said our thoughts, words and actions flow from what’s been cultivated in our hearts (Luke 6:45; Mark 7:21). Proverbs 4:23 punctuates this point: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” It would seem Jesus, drawing from biblical wisdom, considers the heart to be the command-center for everything we are, loving and not-so-loving, good and not-so-good.

That means my heart needs vigilant monitoring and ongoing recalibrating. If you will, it needs to be “re-habituated” to love God. How? How can my heart and your heart become “re-habituated” to love God? The answer is worship.

Paul picks this up in his letter to the Colossians as he urges them (and us) to practice four habits of the heart. First, dress myself with Christ’s love; second, govern myself with Christ’s peace; third, nourish myself with Christ’s Word; and fourth, indulge myself in grateful worship. The daily practice of these habits steadily works to “re-habituate” my heart toward God. As my heart is “re-habituated toward God,” it becomes a temple for him. And I discover that Christian living becomes a little more second nature.

By the way, I recommend Smith’s book. It’s a great read!