Recently, Ive been doing a lot of thinking. Praying. Listening. And learning. Here is something thats been on my mind more than anything else recently

[Fact.] Habits are too easy to establish.

It has been stated that it takes anywhere from 14 to 21 days to found a permanent habit. The scary thing is that majority of these behaviors are not intentionally formed. For example, a smoker does not sit down and say, "Oh boy, I love the negative health effects smoking has on me, I really should consider doing it more often."

 David Crowder tells us in his book Praise Habit why he believes it is easier for us to create bad habits, then good ones, "Im convinced its because we are bent, deficient, broken. Things arent right. Things arent as they were intended. Things arent as they were at the start. Innocence is gone, and left alone in our depraved state we tend to choose destructive paths (However), when we do find the will and courage to head down that narrow path, we often find that even then we still have a deep capacity for taking beautiful things and turning them into hideous remnants of what was intended."

Consequently, when we make choices over and over to live in sin and not in God, we are establishing habit patterns that are tremendously difficult to break. We are choosing to live as sins slave. Sometimes we talk ourselves out of it. We make the right choice several times in a row, but before long, we fail. And fail. And, fail yet again. And it is then that the devil begins to convince us that we can never change that we can never break this habitually vicious cycle. Satan talks us into believing with our whole hearts that we will never walk in consistent victory over sin. Therefore, we give up.

How terrifying is that? That we, as Christians, so quickly let Satan persuade us, simply because we pass off our sin as a little habit, or something we think we cannot have an eternal victory over. Like most things in life, if we believe that we will fail, we will. But if we believe that we will succeed, we will. Why should we not apply this to our constant battle with Satan and our sinful nature?

The Truth is, we are incapable of changing ourselves, for apart from me, Jesus said, you can do nothing (John 15.5)

The Truth is, through Christs finished work on the cross, we can live in victory over sin; Satan is no longer our master, and we no longer have to live as slaves to sin (N.L. DeMoss).

The Truth is, that we no longer live, but Christ lives IN US. We have been bought at a price. We have been crucified with Christ. Our debt has been paid. Our sins have been forgiven, and WE HAVE been given the power in Christ to live in consistent victory over sin. For, I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me.

Think about it. What have you become a slave to? What habits have you unknowingly established in your life that are ripping you to pieces? When you really step back and look at it, its daunting what we comfortably fall into. I find that I must constantly remind myself that I have been set free. And, I must ask myself daily, what is keeping me from living in this freedom I have been given through Christ?

"Our habit IS the Christ. He is what covers us. He is what identifies us. We wear Him into every moment, and when we live with this awareness, we PRAISE CHRIST." [David Crowder, Praise Habit]

It takes the same amount of time to sever a habit from yourself, as it does to establish one. Take it a day at a time. You will conquer. God will get you through, not somehow, but triumphantly.

Thanks for reading.

[Romans 6:18, 8:2]