So yesterday we looked at a few ways to begin the journey of breaking a “habit” in your life. We start off by admitting the habit. admitting the habit allows our mind and our heart to bring it to the light. Bringing things to light allows one to deal with the issue correctly and in the right manner. We move from admitting to the honesty stage. We have to be honest with ourself and to God. We have to lay all the cards, hiding nothing, out on the table of forgiveness and forgetfulness. Last and definitely not least, we have to let go. We have to let go of the habit and move to the next few steps we’re going to address. The first one is

Prayer:  Christ tells us in Phillipians 4:6, (My favorite verse..)

“Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

You truly have to read this verse slowly and allow God to work in your life in the way of your habit. Christ tells us not worry about it, but to pray and petition with thanksgiving and present it to God. (This also applies to other areas in your life but for tonight, we’re referencing to the topic of “habit.”) We have to understand and know that pray is nothing more than speaking/talking to God. There is no magical prayer or prayer you must say in order for things to happen or come true. There is the Lord’s Prayer but pray is communicating to God; it’s your way of being honest to God. You speak with God as if you were speaking to your best friend; because He is your best friend.

Persevere:  You must be persistent in completing this task, defeating this habit. You can’t look back as it slows you from moving forward. Moving forward is the only way you can leave the past behind as it will bring you down and cause you to loose focus. In James 1:4;

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

See, you must persevere in the work you are doing, rather it’s defeating a habit, reading your Bible, trusting in God above and beyond, loving and spending time with your family-whatever the case maybe, perseverance must finish its work so we can be mature, complete and lacking nothing in Christ. In defeating a habit, you must-must be persistent in getting rid of the habit in any and all ways possible. If that means changing your habits, changing your friends or even worse, changing you… The habit must not control you anymore, you must re-gain control of your life and break the chains that hold you back. Christ has a great work to do in you and through you but He can’t have full control if He doesn’t have full control.

So I ask you, what habit(s) do you need to break? What habit have you been hiding in the darkness of your heart and life? Aren’t you tired of that habit ruling or controlling your life, ruining your decisions and your life?? How much more is going to take before you break the habit? How much more damage are you willing to do to your life, your marriage, finances or even children before you decide enough is enough?? That’s a question only you can answer and I hope you find your peace soon. Once it’s dealt with, it’s so much better-take it from someone who knows… ;)