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Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21, NASB1995).
Up early a few days ago, I was on my back porch for Bible reading and prayer, resulting in a meditation where I speak to God and He speaks to me. Having a porch that overlooks a woods, I receive a glory transfusion (that’s better than coffee) from God’s creation and His inspired Word.
(My back porch)
While on the back porch, I noticed that it was foggy and hot, so I left for a two-hour bike ride at 8 a.m.
I enjoy cycling in the early morning, especially in fog, as it seems mysterious, and the mist keeps me cool. I did notice other riders wearing face masks, and I almost yelled, “Hey, Covid was over four years ago!”
At 10:00 a.m, on the ride back to my house, I remember thinking, “This fog is thick, and I wonder why the sun hasn’t burned it off?”
Arriving home, taking off my cycling shoes in the garage, Pastor Rick Ives, who also rides a bike, texted me, “Careful out there today, air is toxic from Canadian fires.” HHHHMMMHHM. And then I heard from a news source, “Exercising outside today for a couple of hours is like smoking a half pack of cigarettes in one day.”
Meditating, cycling, and smoking — the topic of today’s blog post. Fortunately, I meditate and cycle but have never smoked cigarettes!
That morning did cause me to think about habits — good and bad habits. Both meditation and cycling are addictive for me, and I always feel better after miles on the bike. And in my years of pastoring, I’ve discussed with many the difficulty of giving up smoking.
There’s a word in James 1:21, found only once in the entire Bible. I’ve underlined it below …
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
James uses this Greek word translated as “implanted,” but it can also be rendered “engrafted” or getting life from union with a living vine. As the Lord’s brother, James could have been thinking of this teaching by Jesus…
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me (John 15:4, NASB).
Science has recently given us insight into addiction by revealing that our brain secretes feel-good chemicals like dopamine and endorphins from meditation, cycling, and smoking! But the longer we keep up these habits, the more ingrained our desires for these “I feel good” chemicals become.
On days when I believe I’m too busy to pray or ride my bike, if I take the time, I feel better, and if I don’t, I get depressed. Stopping our addictions causes withdrawal — we don’t want to give up our “feel good” chemicals. This is good for meditation and cycling but bad for smokers.
Again, reading James 1:21, notice the verse indicates how to replace a bad addiction with a good addiction…
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
God has wired our brains to respond positively to meditation and beneficial health habits. When we receive the Word “implanted,” it saves (heals and sets free) our souls. But this same process, used by the flesh, makes it sooooo difficult to overcome negative practices. We must receive the Word engrafted.
The Canadian smoke might still be around this week, but I’m still going to ride my bike.