Bad Habits (Part 5)

Bad Habits (Part 5) 

The struggle of wrestling with habits can often produce a deep sense of frustration. The difficulty of achieving a permanent victory over alcoholism, drug dependence, and smoking can become a grueling experience. Your previous inabilities to defeat sinful habits can create an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair.

Those who have sought to overcome such habits have soon discovered that they are not always easy to defeat. It is not a problem which can be solved with simplistic answers or quick-fix remedies. However, it is a problem which can be successfully answered through Christ.
Before you can successfully deal with sinful habits, you must understand that there are no hopeless situations in Christ. Our habits are no exception.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul lists the sinful practices which the Corinthians had been habitually involved in. He included such things as drunkenness, homosexuality, and thievery. In verse eleven, he followed with this important statement:

“And such were some of you.”

This verse is a strong encouragement for all those seeking a lasting release from life dominating habits. The wording is in the past tense-“were”. Paul reveals that God has made it possible to overcome what seems to be impossible, which are your old ways. Jesus didn’t just provide a temporary, half-way solution. He gives a permanent victory over every conceivable practice. If He could do it for them, He can do the same for you.

This is the guarantee of scripture:

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

However, some Christians have convinced themselves that this is not possible. They have made so many unsuccessful attempts to overcome their habits that they have resigned themselves to failure. They have defeated themselves even before they begin.

You may have lost a few battles, but you have not lost the war. In spite of your previous failures, you must not settle for total defeat. You must re-commit yourselves to follow God’s divine instructions for victory. You are more than an overcomer through Christ!