At some point during elementary school, I became a habitual knuckle cracker. I cracked my knuckles absentmindedly all the time, especially when I was nervous, such as before a test. I tried so hard to stop but never could. It seemed impossible, and I gave up. 

After I grew up, though, I realized that I needed to pray about this habit. It had never occurred to me before to seek God’s help with overcoming this urge, but I knew that it did not come from God, so I didn’t really have to do it. I understood that since I’m an expression of God, the one Mind, who is all good, I couldn’t be compelled to do anything irritating or ugly. 

One night I woke up with a seemingly irresistible need to crack my fingers. Right away, I heard this angel message: “You don’t want to break the First Commandment.” An angel message is a thought from God and always brings peace and direction. This message showed me that putting anything before God is breaking the Commandment “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).