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In my last post I gave you tips on how to achieve a regular church attendance habit. Today I want to give you four benefits of regular church attendance.
- Consistent attendace is the only way you will become a part of the community at your church and isn’t this the point of attending? Yes, you are there to worship God, but assembling together is edify and encourage one another. This is impossible if you barely attend. You become a transient visitor and it is hard to feel you are a part of the family. A community is dependent on the input of all the members.Often we are tempted to think we can just get by doing our own thing or just studying at home. While these are good ideas, they fail to recognize one thing: the need of the other people who needed to see me there. People who need to know they are not the only ones still trying to follow God. People who need to see me with my struggles showing up so they don’t get defeated by their own struggles.
- When you are a regular part of a community they lend support in so many areas of your life. They celebrate the joys of life and they mourn with you during the losses of life. They encourage you in your career, your parenting and in your marriage. They lend a hand when you need one. They give also give you the opportunity to do this for others, which is even more rewarding.
- When you least feel like going, this is when you shouldn’t miss. I am not talking about going with a contagious illness, but when we are feel exhausted, discouraged and depressed, this is when we need to go. Why? Because we think we need isolation, but what we usually need is focus on the eternal. Day to day living has a way of making us flocus on ourselves and the struggles of this world. When you take time to devote to God and to others, it shifts your focus and they byproduct is a healthier outlook and a refreshed soul.
- Regular attendence creates a rhythm in your life. There is something about regularly being a part of worship every weeks that sets the week in order. When I miss worship or my Wednesday night class, I am totally confused what day it is and my week feels off. Almost like I forgot to brush my teeth before leaving the house. I know this sounds silly but it really becomes a part of your life so when you are unable to be a part of it, it leaves a hole in your routine and life.
Charles Dughigg in his book “The Power of Habit” puts it like this:“This explains why habits are so powerful: They create neurological cravings. Most of the time, these cravings emerge so gradually that we’re not really aware they exist, so we’re often blind to their influence. But as we associate cues with certain rewards, a subconscious craving emerges in our brains that starts the habit loop spinning.”
― The Power Of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life And Business
While there are many more benefits, I hope these two posts will encourage you to either get back to a habit of regular church attendance or start a new routine. Be sure and comment and let us know about the benefits you experience.