Make the rest of your year the best of your year. Make new good habits and break some old bad habits. If the next six months are going to be different, what are you going to do differently? What do you need to change? Learn something today that will make tomorrow different.
The Bible is full of wisdom that we can apply. When Solomon became king, God offered him whatever Solomon wanted. Solomon asked God for wisdom. The more wisdom you have, the fewer miracles you need. My book, Make That, Break That was written to help you with your habits and is based in the wisdom of God’s Word.
Habits greatly impact our lives. There are four things about habits I want to leave you with today:
1. The Importance of Habits: Proverbs 22:6 teaches if you train a child in the right path, when they are older they will not leave it. Think how you train a child. People grow through repetition. Do you want to grow toward God and His will for your life? Habits set a trajectory for our lives. When rooted in the Word of God, they can direct us and bring us peace as we’re established on a firm foundation of truth and wisdom. Life is full of distraction and temptation and good habits provide stability and direction. For instance, attending church regularly is an important habit. God's presence can change things in our lives that we can’t change ourselves. Bible, prayer and church should be prioritized so we’re aligned with God's purpose for our lives.
We see in the account of Daniel, that he maintained the habit of praying three times per day. It was a testament to his commitment and faith and a lifeline that kept him aligned with God and protected him through a strong foundation. A habit of prayer will equip us to face life’s challenges. Cultivate habits that honor God and you will be established.
Michaels Phelps is a great physical example of how good habits impact life. He trained consistently, showing his commitment through daily routines. He swam twice daily plus other workouts and he consistently visualized each race, mentally rehearsing what he would do in different situations. Visualization is a use of our imagination and is a powerful tool God gave each of us. Worry is the negative use of imagination. Instead of worrying, use the same energy to imagine what can go right or how to adjust in an unexpected situation. Mental habits and physical habits help get us where we’re going. Understand their importance and how they lead you to success.
2. Identifying Bad Habits: Watch your behavior. Take time to pay attention to things you are doing that hold you back from where you want to be. Once you identify them, how do you get rid of these bad habits? The best way to conquer bad habits is to develop good habits that replace them. Overcome evil with good. Paul expressed his frustration with himself in Romans 7:15. Like all of us, he didn’t understand himself. Instead of doing what he knew was good, he did what he hated. Like Paul, you can find yourself trapped, but acknowledging your weaknesses allows you to position yourself to overcome and change. Some weaknesses are deeply ingrained from childhood. Some we don’t realize are harmful. Actions that lead us away from God and God’s purposes for us need to be identified. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the habits that hinder your relationships, your health, your finances, your career, etc. It will require humility to ask Him to show you the things hindering growth.
Check why you’re not where you should be and assess patterns of behavior that lead you into sin, distract you from God's presence, harm your mind, body, and relationships. These areas are crucial for transformation. Think of a garden. If left unchecked, a garden can be taken over by weeds. Good plants can be choked out. Bad habits are like that against spiritual growth. They lead us away from success. This is true In the marketplace and in our spiritual life. This process requires persistence and willingness to face uncomfortable truths. Thank God for his grace. We need to eliminate habits that hinder and then nurture and cultivate the habits that honor God to fulfill our potential.
3. Replace Bad Habits with Good Habits: In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul exhorts Christ followers to throw off their old nature and be renewed in the spirit. Avoid the void! Replace bad habits with godly habits. If you don’t do this, the old habit will return or a new bad habit will replace the old bad habit. For real transformation, you have to develop new habits. For example, do you struggle with negative thinking? Replace these with positive affirmations. Declare what God thinks about you according to the Bible.
The Bible is full of life principles. Work the principles. Sowing and reaping works - you reap what you sow. Make affirmations and say them over and over. Replace gossip with encouragement and uplifting conversations. Employ daily surrender of the bad habit you are conquering. Ask the Holy Spirit, “What do I need to do?” and be ready to do what He tells you. It requires commitment and reliance on the Holy Spirit so we can become everything He wants for us. God has promised abundant life. What do you need to do to position yourself for the abundant life? As you see real change, it will not only bless you, but it will impact the people around you.
4. The Role of Accountability: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 teaches that two are better than one. Strength is found in companionship. Accountability is integral in making new habits and breaking old. Find someone to support you. Reporting to each other is helpful in overcoming. It also provides someone to celebrate with in your successes. We need community and companionship so we can do better together. Coaches are good for this. We’re not meant to walk the journey alone. It involves honesty and vulnerability but it’s worth it. Look for a mentor to help you. They can see what’s missing. Don’t do it alone. Also, remember the Holy Spirit is with you. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
I hope I’ve helped you today and I hope what I’ve had to say will transform you. Look at what you need to change. With Christ we have the strength to make and break habits. Transformation is possible. With personal discipline and spiritual discipline we can make the changes. Habits hold significant power to shape our lives. Recognize the importance of godly habits, identify bad habits, replace bad habits with good habits, and embrace accountability. These changes will draw you closer to God and make a real difference in your life for the better.
