Bad Habits (Part 4)

Bad Habits (Part 4)

To avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions, we must exercise self-control.

Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Him in Matthew 16:24. To do this, we must control our mind, by which we control our bodies. Jesus said:

Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

Paul expresses these thoughts with an athletic metaphor, saying, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" in 1 Corinthians 9:24, 25.

Like an athlete, we must exercise self-control in all things. If we do, we'll control our minds, which control our bodies, and overcome bad habits and addictions.

If we walk by the Spirit, we'll avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions. The fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22 is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Since we walk by the Spirit, we exercise control over sin, bad habits, and addictions.

We walk by the Spirit because we belong to Christ, having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires according to Galatians 5:24. We don't engage in bad habits and addictions because Christ doesn't engage in sin.

Paul said in Galatians 2:20 that we've been crucified with Christ, who lives in us; and the life which we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself up for us.

Walking by the Spirit, God's empowers us to avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions.

We're empowered by God's word and prayer.

-Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”

-1 Thessalonians 2:13 “. . . the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”

-1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

As Christians, we have the ability to control our bodies with our minds, empowered by God's word and blessed with answered prayers. Avoiding and overcoming bad habits and addictions isn't a question of ability, it's a question of desire.