A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 2/19

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We've all got bad habits, Lord,
and once they're habits,
they're no longer things we think about or plan:
we do the wrong things. again and again,
not by design but - out of habit...

This Lent, Lord,

give me a 10 second warning:
just enough time

to reconsider,
find an alternative,

make a different choice

and break

- a bad habit's hold on me...

Give me a 10 second warning
to know when a habit's
about to be triggered...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I use your name in vain
       - or some foul "expletive deleted"...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I gossip, spread a rumor
       or ruin someone's reputation...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I loose my cool
       and misdirect my anger once again...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I say Yes
       - when I ought to say No...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I make a choice
       based on prejudice and bias...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I tell that kind of joke
       or laugh when someone else does...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I start to take for granted
       all my blessings and my gifts...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I put myself ahead of friends, family
       and others counting on my love...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I bend the truth and tell a lie
       just to save my butt...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I cheat my spouse, friend, my job
       - before I cheat myself...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I use the Internet
       to feed my lusty urge...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I eat or drink much more
       than what I need, than what is healthy...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I indulge myself
       while others live in need...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I say No
       when I should say Yes...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I nurse a grudge
       and fuel my jealousy and envy...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I tell myself again,
       "I don't really need to go to confession..."

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I'm run my mouth
       when I know I should be silent...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I entertain myself in ways
       that waste my time...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I tell myself,
       "This habit's not that bad..."

Give me a 10 second warning

before I fail in being just

and fair and true and honest...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I con myself and start to think
       that my way's always right...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I put off prayer again
      - as I have done so often...

Give me a 10 second warning
   before I turn my mind, my heart
       away from you, my Lord, my God...