If you’re like many others, you’ve already broken at least one of your New Year’s resolutions. It doesn’t seem to take much time to develop bad habits. Good habits can take a lifetime to develop, but they can replace the bad, with help.
How do we develop new habits? Many can be changed through our own time and effort. But when we seek God’s help, we are most successful. One of my friends had been addicted to alcohol for years and had tried several ways to break the habit, to no avail. She finally reached a point of desperation and told the Lord she couldn’t do it anymore on her own. He would have to do it for her. As soon as she quit trying on her own, she lost her taste for alcohol and hasn’t touched it since.
Not everyone finds success so miraculously, but they could. One of the keys to overcoming bad habits is our desperation. How desperate are we to stop a bad habit? How trusting are we in God’s promises to deliver us from such evils? Will we truly listen to His Word and His still, small voice, for specific ways to be healed?
While we’re on the subject, let’s consider our spiritual habits. Are we spending so much time on unimportant things that we place reading and meditating on His Word in second place? Are we thinking more about our next meal, the TV show we’re watching, or the item on our to-do list than talking to Him in prayer and listening to Him?
The Apostle Paul wrote: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Paul compared the Christian life with that of a soldier who strives daily to keep in shape for the battles ahead. When we make sure both spirit and body are fit, we will not only be better equipped to serve and glorify God, our levels of inner peace and joy will skyrocket. After all, He loves us so much, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and then rise bodily to return to His Father in heaven. His excruciating death and His resurrection assure us a place with Him when we believe in Him.
Thank You, Lord, for promising to help us overcome the bad habits that have hindered our relationship with You. Show us how to develop good ones that will bring us all-around health and fitness and will give us joy and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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