Breaking bad habits with God’s help

There are many today around the world who struggle bad habits. Habits are our default settings. They are things that we are programmed to do under certain circumstances. In fact, those circumstances serve as triggers for us to act out our habits. As we all know, there are good and bad habits. In order to save words; let’s say a good habit is one that promotes your general wellbeing while a bad habit does the exact opposite. Because we have a Heavenly Father who loves us dearly and always wants us to be in health and prosperity, we are encouraged in His Word to avoid such bad habits. Instead of being filled with guilt, condemnation and shame, He wants us to experience His righteousness, peace and joy. But what if like the masses, you’re having a hard time breaking a bad habit?

Thank God, there’s a way out. These are not necessarily “things to do to break this or that habit“. They are truths that you can know and believe that will reprogramme your mind to live your best life. God wants you to live the abundant life full of faith, hope and love. I’ve summarized these truths into 5 easy points. Let’s start…

1. Know that God is on your side.
Ofttimes when we struggle with certain bad habits and even addictions, we have this picture in our minds of how God is throwing His hands in despair at our every failing. We picture a God who is demanding, intimidating and harsh. However this doesn’t help anyone. You need to know that God isn’t the one against you. It is the bad habit that has become the enemy’s tool to steal that abundant life that God desires for you. As a good Father, He isn’t siding with your accusers to condemn you. Rather He’s made all His resources of strength, unconditional love, grace, righteousness and surpassing peace available to you. Instead of shying away from Him, lean on Him to break every bad habit in your life.

2. Know that the greater one lives in you.
In every battle, it is always encouraging to know that your army is stronger and more powerful than your opponents. You need to know that the same powerful God who created the heavens and the earth and put the stars in place dwells in you by virtue of the Holy Spirit in you. The power of conquest doesn’t lie with your adversary, it is with you. Have that confidence always that the power, glory and victory belongs to your camp. You’ve been set up for victory all the days of your life. Even now, celebrate your victory in Christ Jesus.

3. Know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
I used to think that God only cared about our spiritual needs, since He is the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9). Little did I know that this God tasted humanity when Jesus walked the face of this earth as God in flesh. As God in flesh, Jesus not only preached to people, he also healed their sick bodies and fed the multitude with bread and fish. God has gone as far as numbering the very hair on your head. It’s that amazing? At the height of it all is the fact that He chose to make your body His temple. That’s the value He places on your body. Be rest assured that any bad habit that threatens to ruin His precious temple will receive His kingly roar. He prizes you above all else.

4. Know that His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
With Jesus your weakness isn’t what disqualifies you. It is actually what qualifies you. Jesus said to the weary and disheartened Israelites during His day, “If you are tired and worn out of religion, come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, paraphrased). He mended broken hearts and healed the sick. What qualified the weary for the rest that Jesus provided? It was their weariness. Similarly, their sickness qualified them for healing. Today, believe that you are qualified to receive God’s provision to override your every weakness.

5. Know His unrelenting love for you
God’s love is the greatest love of all. It’s so genuine and boundless. Love isn’t just God’s covering. It is who He is and what He does. He loves you personally and consistently. His love for you hasn’t changed and it will never change. Regardless of what happens, there’s one thing that remains- His love for you. It may be difficult for us to grasp the entirety of His love because most of us haven’t received a blueprint of this love from others. We have people who fall in and out of love with us but when God loves you, my friend, you’re stuck in His love. It’s everlasting. Draw from His unconditional love for you.

I am confident that as you dwell on these truths any bad habit in your life will wane in the light of His glory and grace. I’m a testimony and several others are also beneficiaries of these everlasting truths. Let’s share this hope with others who may be experiencing struggles with certain bad habits. There is hope in Christ.