How can I break bad habits? - Habits - TouchPoints

Matthew 6:33-34“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Romans 7:15I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

One of the best ways to deal with bad habits is to recognize them for what they are and confess them honestly to God. Paul knew that he could not kick his sinful habits completely in this life (see Romans 7). But he did know that, with God’s help, he could make progress every day. In the same way we may have to give up a habit in phases, one step at a time, trusting God fully and relying on his power in us.

Romans 8:5-6Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to help make us holy. While victory does not always come immediately, we will progress as we submit our minds and hearts to the love, wisdom, and truth of God’s Spirit living in us.

Romans 6:12-14Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

One of Satan’s great lies is that we are victims who have no power to resist the powerful influences around us. The world teaches that heredity, environment, and circumstances excuse us from responsibility. But God is more powerful than any other power trying to control us. When we call upon his power through prayer and seek the support of the Holy Spirit and fellow believers, God breaks the chains that hold us and sets us free.

Philippians 4:8Now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Colossians 3:2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

1 John 2:15Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

Sin often appears attractive. In the same way, bad habits often feel good even though we know they are ultimately bad for us. Breaking a bad habit can be difficult because we are losing something we enjoy. A grieving process may be involved. Breaking bad habits will be much easier if we replace them with good ones. This moves our time and energy to new, healthier sources of fulfillment. Ultimately, losing a bad habit brings the deeper satisfaction of doing what is pleasing to God.

Romans 6:16-17Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.

Breaking bad habits is a choice; it doesn’t just happen. We stand each day at many crossroads, where we have the opportunity to choose the ways of sin or of God. Whom would we rather serve?