Lake Eufaula Christian Church
As 2024’s second month arrives, how many of you have kept your New Year’s resolutions? If you answered, “Not me” you have lots of company. Bad habits are so easy to develop, but so hard to break. However, because bad habits wreck good goals, you’d be wise to keep trying and to use Biblical advice for help.
Oh, you’re probably thinking—the Bible doesn’t give advice to stop smoking, to lose weight, to stop gambling or any other specific bad habit you might have. Maybe, it doesn’t seem that way. However, scripture shows us Bible characters who thrive with good habits or suffer with bad habits. And the Bible gives plenty of advice on breaking those bad habits, saying specifically that the word of God helps. “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” (James 1:21). That’s powerful!
Samson is a Biblical example of someone who ran toward sin, temptation, and a filthy habit when he “went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute.” (Judges 16:1). If any ancient man was born with incredible, miraculous potential given to him by God, it was Samson. Yet, because of one poor decision, one step in the wrong direction, one bad habit, one unhealthy choice, one day at a time, his life completely fell apart.
Most of us don’t wreck our lives all at once. We do it one bad habit, one day at a time over a series of years. Making one good decision and taking one right step toward developing a small, healthy, Godly habit can change your life.
Ask yourself, who do you want to become? Based on that desire, what one, small healthy, Godly habit do you need to start? Once you’ve decided, “Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving.” (Proverbs 4:14-15) How do you break a bad habit? Make it difficult to do. First, you need to acknowledge and define the filthy habit you want to defeat because you can’t defeat what you can’t define. You may have a problem with a bad attitude, a grumbling spirit, a complaining heart. Or maybe you have an eating issue: you eat too much sugar, too much chocolate, too many snacks.
Or maybe you’re addicted to video games if you’ve let a fun pastime take over your life. Maybe it has replaced God and church or it’s hurting your relationships. Maybe you need to take a break from your mobile device. Or perhaps you’re addicted to nicotine, or an illegal substance, or prescription medication, or something that masquerades as medicine.
Research shows that every bad habit starts with a trigger— something that says you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Remembers the acronym HALT and say it aloud. Removing triggers will help, and if you ask God to help you halt, He will. Begin today by making your bad habit more difficult to do. Remove the triggers and interrupt the normal actions that lead you down a path that is unhealthy and ungodly. Replace the bad habit with the new healthy habit based on who you want to become. God will help you!
LECC’s congregation will help you too. A member recently shared his problem with giving up nicotine, and now dozens are asking God to help him succeed and joining him in the fight. We truly believe with Jesus, anything is possible. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loves us.” (Romans 8:37).
Please join us as we explore what’s possible for all of us at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula for small group Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday night classes for all ages at 6:30 p.m.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
