This month’s Kick the Habit challenge turned out to have a lot more of an impact on my life than I thought I would. I mean, I knew that kicking some bad habits would be a good thing, but I didn’t realize that I’d a) form healthy lifelong habits and b) learn some deeper lessons about myself.

On that note, let me start by going over my bad habit of having sidewalk rage.

I’ve mentioned before how I feel seriously lame for even saying I struggle with this. But, as l just mentioned, the problem goes deeper than simply how I react to pedestrians. As a Christian, I don’t want to be someone who just talks the talk - I want to walk the walk (pun sort of intended). I can go on and on all day on my blog about how faithful God is and how much I want to show His love to this city…and I can go to church and outwardly express my praise…but what does any of that matter if I can’t act in a loving, kind way while doing something as simple as walking to work?

It kills me to think that even one person has thought “wow, that girl is a bitch,” rather than seeing kindness and love from my life. I don’t want God’s love to show through me only when I’m intending it to be – I want it to be there all. the. time. So that’s why this sidewalk rage habit of mine is part of a bigger picture. And, although I can’t say I’ve kicked the habit completely, I’m glad I began this process of being a light in this city as much as I possibly can.

And now for the more practical kicked-habit – quitting my frequent dining out.

Since the last week of July, I’ve dined out maybe 5 or 6 times, which is less than I used to in an entire week! Not only have I been saving a ton of money, but I’ve been able to cook myself healthier meals, bake for my friends and office, and use my lunch hour for more productive things.

While I may go back to grabbing lunch here or there more often after this month, I can quite confidently say that I’ve broken the habit of dining out for almost every meal. Even better, though, is that I’ve formed the habit of going back to preparing most of my meals at home – the way it should be. I’ve also formed the habit of being more mindful of what I spend money on and how efficiently I save it. Just about every week I’ve been putting more and more money into my savings account, and that – my friends – is a good feeling.

So thank you, FreelyBe. I may be biased, but I think you’re pretty awesome

What do you think the meaning behind some of your habits (good or bad) are?

Since our mission at Freely Be is to bring freedom to the world, we think it’s important to highlight and support individuals that are trying to make that happen. That’s why we’re going to be continuously featuring keyholders – people who are dedicating their lives to helping others and changing the world.

Our first keyholder is Robby Riggs. Check out this interview to learn more about how Robby found freedom and is now sharing it with others.

keyholder profile: Robby Riggs.

1. What does it mean to you to Freely Be?

To freely be is to be freely known by God, the Father, in secret. It is NOT out of a religious or legalistic lifestyle, just love.

2. How do you live your life in a way that is…free?

Let me begin with my past: I grew up going to church and by the late teenage years, I operated, without knowing in ‘religion’. My spirit and soul was not being satisfied by what I heard of God, what I saw of the Church, and how I ‘felt’ loved by God. Little by little, my relationship with God was dissipating and becoming rules or even a fight to do the right things. Until eleven, my grandfather called me ‘stupid and dumb.’ By the age of eleven, the words became reality and I began to live as this ‘stupid and dumb’ guy in my own thoughts. As I grew up, I doubted my worth and value. I would walk into church and yearn for someone to be real and raw with me with life. In college, I drank to fit in, developed a sarcastic attitude because of my hurt and many walls that I had set up all around me, and pornography began to fill the ‘longing’ of intimacy with God. This combination left me completely alone, dark, and distant. No real connections.  No true hope for the future, and just in a wondering state. There had to be more.

In 2008, I went on an 11-month mission trip around the world… to basically discover that I was simply loved. Through all the days in other countries, I found myself completely ‘wrecked’ for someone. Perhaps myself at time, but sometimes for whole communities with no working water, no food for the day or days, and no hope. That year, the Lord started to really speak to my broken places in me, and the process of healing from my past began.  I learned that I was free from everything and God really did not see that. Mostly, that He loved me to deeply, and that He is NOT religion, but just pure and simple yet complex love.

Today, I live as a free man. Past shames, and regrets have no rule over my life any longer. I no longer see a ‘dumb and stupid’ man in the mirror, but a brilliant man. Pornography is not my way of being momentarily satisfied, and sarcasm no longer is my defense mechanism around people. In fact, I am able to love deeply without being fearful to ‘fit in’ or even loved back. I understand that if I make mistakes, that God loves me bigger than those – He sees me as HIS Son. My role and identity do not lie in what I do, how much money I make, that car I drive, etc. but only by how I love the person next to me. That is freedom for me.

3. How do you encourage others to live freely?

One of my favorite things is to watch men and women become who they are in this world. When a man releases the bondage, past guilt, and even current situations, I literally see someone come into a position of true confidence – not by their works or other people’s thoughts – just their freedom in God. The bondage might be found in things like their job, attitude of life, worries of everything, the love of money, their past…or maybe it was their father being absent in life, or even authority that abused them. It could be that alcohol, sex, drugs, etc. currently bind them and no one in the church as offered a ear to listen and love to cover it. No matter what it is, I encourage a man to be real and raw with himself first before anything. I would encourage men to understand that in God, they are completely loved, and to not fear intimacy with Him.

4. What is it that you are passionate about?

I am passionate about life in general. Obviously watching people come alive and understanding God and how much he values them is top priority. I am also passionate about the young boy in Africa who has no father, no mother, no family, and now the LRA has captured him and kills innocent people *while he is innocent* because of being brainwashed. I am passionate about the woman in Thailand who has been put into the ‘Red Light District/Human Trafficking’ for her family (And it happens here in the USA). But, I am also passionate about the man who lies to his family and travels across the ocean to be with that woman for a few days for ‘business’… most likely because he is completely lonely- but to know he is worth just as much as she is in my view. I am passionate for the Church today to really be the Church. To lend there hearts out in times of trouble, to not ridicule others, to not despise the ‘other religions’ but to love them deeply, and to bring hope to the people in this nation that are suffering. I am passionate to see a generation of young boys step up today and be Gods hands, arms, voice, feet, for this world. I am passionate for people and I love to fight for those that are hurting, scared, and mostly feel unloved.

5. Other – anything else that may be on your heart or that you want to share?

I believe there are many in the Church that are hurting and sick. They come in every Sunday and are terrified to really share what they believe, what they have done, and even did last night. I desire for them to understand that the Church should be a place of safety, and that there is no room for criticism. I am a man who believes God loves so deep and honestly, wants nothing but greatness for everyone’s life. There is a generation waiting for something different to happen and there is a generation actually DOING and not waiting any longer, and that generation is my generation. I am involved with the younger generation that is currently – in their early teenage years – changing the world one person at a time. Understanding your role as son and daughter of God is crucial, and grasping the love of the Him will completely change your life.

Support Robby HERE