Even Good People Can Be Bound By Bad Habits

"Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time."  -Mark Twain

Many times when a message is brought up about breaking free from habits, peoples' minds immediately switch to…well this will be a good one for the drug addict and the alcoholic, they need a message like this. And I agree they do need it, but 2 Peter goes so much further than that. And many who are reading this message today need to break free from something (2 Peter 2:19). 

Is this making sense so far? Okay. So how do you identify a "habit?" A negative life controlling "habit" is something you find yourself doing even though it is destructive ether physical, mentally, emotionally, relation-ally or spiritually. Or you consistently do something you wish you wouldn't do, but you find yourself doing it any way?

You must understand, good people are bound by bad habits. The apostle Paul understood his dilemma in Romans 7:15. He had good intentions, too. Some of us, reason in our minds, if we admit we have a habit than we are less than spiritual. Denial is not the way to deal with the problem.

Be honest, look at your life and like Paul, evaluate the thing you find yourself doing that you hate. Take a moment and write down the habits in your life that you want to see victory in.

Unfortunately, bad habits tend to creep up on us. These life controlling habits are formed at a snails pace that is almost unnoticeable. Usually the person doesn’t even know they have formed a habit in there life. And if some one asks, they say, “I can quit at any time. This isn’t a problem.”

Habits are like a cable. Each day we do something in a pattern, we intertwine one thread with another. As the threads are woven together a cable is formed. On any day, the threads we added were too small to be noticed. But, after many threads have been woven in, we find that together they have become an unbreakable cable.

So it is with habits, both good and bad, daily practices over time become habits that are unbreakable.At first it seems very harmless, at any time in the early stages you could rid your self. In fact you convince yourself you could stop at any time. Then, the habit takes a stronger foothold, advancing a little more taking away a little more of your freedom. Over a period of time that habit like the enemy begins to advance and destroy you.

I ask you: How many marriages have been lost to habits? How many families have been divide because of habits? How many jobs have been lost How many relationships destroyed because of habits? How many minds are wasted because of habits? 

Seems impossible, doesn't it? So, how can you break free from the grip of a bad habit in your life, from the smallest to the largest? First, let's take a look at 1 Corinthians 10:13. God lets us know that in every situation with every temptation he provides victory. In fact, here are a few steps you can take to help you start breaking that bad habit. First, Admit you have a problem. Everything starts with confession (1 John.1:9). Accept the responsibility that you have a problem.

Next, depend on God’s power to combat bad habits (Philippians 4:13). When it comes to being set free from habits that bind, Jesus can do more in a moment than doctors can do in a lifetime. God must become your primary source of strength.

Start your days off with God, and he will help you through the day to over come and show you a way out. The more you allow God to be part of your life the more you will see him working in you. You have to stop trying to do this by your self. He did not say go along but said draw near to me (James 4:7). 

Finally, bad habits must be replaced by good ones. God told Moses that before the Israelites settled in the promise land, they should drive out the wicked inhabitants and destroy their idols. In Colossians 3 Paul encourages us to live as Christians in the same manner: throwing away our old way of living and moving ahead into our new life of obedience to God and faith in Jesus Christ.

Like the Israelites moving into the promise land, we can destroy the wickedness in our life, or we can settle down and live with it. To move in and possess the new life, we must drive out the sinful thoughts and practices to make room for the new.

And how should we go about developing new, positive habits to replace the old, negative ones? Here's a few suggestions: How about memorizing God's word? Read these verses for support: Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:165.

How about finding support from others? God says it is absolutely essential for your recovery or healing. We are healed by admitting our faults to one another. Why do I need to drag another person into this? Why can’t I just admit it to God? Why don’t I just pray about it, make a list, talk to God about it? But why do I need to tell another person? (James. 5:16) 

Because the root of our problem is relational. We lie to each other. We deceive each other. We’re dishonest with each other. We wear masks. We pretend we have it together. But we don’t. and we deny our true feelings, and we play games. We end up living with shame and it makes us insecure. If they really knew the truth about me, they wouldn't love me. The Bible tells us that we need to bare one another’s burdens.

God says revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing. The amazing thing is, when you risk honesty with someone, all of a sudden , this feeling of freedom comes into your life. You realize that everybody has habits and often they have the same one you do.

How about just taking it one day at a time? Why? Because God wants to give you enough strength to change for one day, not for the week, one month, the rest of your life. He wants to take it one day at a time so you trust in Him.(Matthew 6:11).

And above all, any victory, no matter how minor, you thank God for it; and you take one defeat at a time, and you get victory one day at a time (Philippians 4:13). 

Scripture: Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:2; Proverbs 4:23; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 4:9

Prayer: O my God, I wish to amend, and in order to be faithful to You, I will place all my confidence in You. I will, whenever I am tempted, instantly have recourse to You. Until now, I have trusted in my own promises and resolutions and have neglected to recommend myself to You in my temptations. This has been the cause of my repeated failures. From this day forward, be You, O Lord, my strength, and this shall I be able to do all things, for “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” Amen.

-Special thanks to Jeff Seamon

May God bless you,

Eileen