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How Would You Define the Word Habit?

The dictionary defines habit as a settled or regular tendency that is hard to give up.

It is routinely unique to a person, which they enjoy and don’t wish to change.

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Do you have a habit(s) that annoys your spouse? �

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The Problem with these Habits—They are Annoying

True, that means irritating.

But, I want us to think of the term in its classical sense this morning, Harm and attack repeatedly.

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This is Picture We Have Seen With

Mental Thoughts

Emotional Traumas

The habits we formed before knowing Jesus harm us from experiencing freedom in Jesus, and the Devil uses them to attack us repeatedly.

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We Need to Avoid the Annoying Habits

Avoid means to keep away from or stop doing something. Both concepts are true with these harmful habits.

The way I like to remember it is with simple phrase—Avoid the Annoy.

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How Do We Avoid these Annoying Habits?

Mental Strongholds

Emotional Wounds of Traumatic Events

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By Replacing them with New Habits

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The Put Off & Put On Principle

This Principle is found in two places in the New Testament:

Colossian 3:
Ephesians 4

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The Principle is Rooted In the Image of Dressing.

Taking off Clothing

Putting on Clothing.

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Ephesians 4:22-24

to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

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What Does It Mean to Take Off Your Former Way of Life and Deceitful Desires?

The futility (empty/purposeless) thoughts formed during their separation from God that darkened or blinded their understanding of God and themselves, because of the hardness/dullness of their heart. Paul goes on say they became callous and gave themselves over to impure practices and desires. (Ephesians 4:17-19)

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No Longer Live for the Wind

Futility—empty desires (Ecclesiastes)

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We Should Be Renewed in the Spirit of Our Minds.

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What Does It Mean to Renew the Spirit of Your Mind?

Colossians 3:1, If you have been raised with Christ seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set Your Minds on the Things not on early things.

This verse reminds me of Jesus' teaching to seek treasures in heaven. It should also remind us of Jesus' rebuke of Peter, Get behind me, Satan, you are mindful of the things of man rather than the things of God.

What you dwell on or mediate on will consume you.

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Philippians 4:6-8

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

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What Does It Mean to Put on Your New Self Created in God’s Likeness?

New Creation in Christ

Be conformed to the Image of Jesus

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Your Identity in Jesus’ Truth & Righteousness

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Paul is Talking About A Balanced/ Aligned Life

Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul challenges us to walk worthy of our calling.

Two Words I want you to be aware of in this challenge

Walk in the New Testament means way of life
Worthy—means to balance the scales

In other words, make sure your life is aligned with the Gospel.

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Story—You Ever Had A Car Out of Alignment?

That car constantly pulls to one side, which makes the steering feel off, the tires wear unevenly, and the fuel efficiency drops. If left uncorrected, such a misalignment could lead to a dangerous accident.

In Ephesians 4:1-3, Paul reminds us we can drift out of alignment with Jesus.

Signs of Spiritual Misalignment:

Drifting Away from Jesus– Our time with Jesus suffers from prayer, Scripture, and serving time.
Unnecessary Struggles – Misalignment causes wear and tear such as spiritual exhaustion, frustration, and burnout.
Inefficiency in living – misaligned can cause us to be distracted or waste our time and energy on things that don’t bear fruit.
Spiritual Danger – Ignoring the warning signs can lead to sin, broken relationships, or loss of credibility in our witness.

If you feel out of sync, today is the time for a spiritual alignment—aligning your habits or way of life to Jesus’ calling in your life.

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What is Jesus After? Be Imitators of God.

Our creative purpose is to reflect the image of God or, as Paul says in Ephesians 5:1, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in the love in which Christ loved us and gave himself for us.

Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. No longer I live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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Challenge

Challenge you with this quote I heard last week,

What you will not change, you choose.

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Invitation

I want to invite you to find the Smallest Catylist to the Change needed.

In 2018, James Clear wrote the book Atomic Habits. The book's central idea emphasizes the smallest consistent change that compounds over time to produce the desired results.

A lady going jogging, if she could get her shoes and get to the front porch, everything else would take care of itself. Simply, don’t overthink it—act.

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