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HABITS OF MIND
Devotion Ideas
Background
As a way to build a ‘Mindful Community and Environment’, the Habits of Mind (HoM) can be
embedded regularly in school devotions. The Habits, must not replace the Gospel as the
focus of devotions, but instead be used to enhance the message. When embedding HoM in
devotions, it recommended beginning with your original idea for the devotion and then
identify the Habits which naturally emerge and enhance your story.
Rather than produce a calendar of habits, where habits are ‘done’ each week, staff are
encouraged to build on their own learning and understanding of the habits by selecting the
habits that are appropriate to their area of interest and/or devotion.
The following table outlines some possibilities for incorporating the language of Habits of
Mind into devotions. The table illustrates Habits which naturally emerge from Biblical
narratives. It is not an exhaustive list.
Ideas – Old Testament
Biblical Ideas / Starters / Habits of Mind
Reference Concept
• Creation • Wonderment and Awe
• Creation • Creating, Imagining and Innovating
Genesis • Adam and Eve • Managing Impulsivity
• Noah • Persistence / Striving for Accuracy
• God’s Grace • Wonderment and Awe
Exodus • Moses • Persistence / Thinking Flexibly
Deuteronomy • God’s love • Wonderment and Awe
• Listening to Others with Empathy and
Ruth • Ruth
Understanding
• Thinking Flexibly
1 Samuel • David and Goliath
• Taking Responsible Risks
• Persistence
Nehemiah • Nehemiah
• Thinking Interpedently
• Various (ref to topic
Psalms • Various
index in your Bible)
• various (ref to topic
Proverbs • Various
index in your Bible)
Ecclesiastes • Solomon • Thinking about your Thinking
Isaiah • Hope • Wonderment and Awe
Daniel • Daniel • Persistence
Jonah • Jonah • Persistence
RLC Habits of Mind Steering Committee, May 2010.