Step 6: Pray Regularly.
Prayer is essential in
two ways.
A
child of God should pray for forgiveness.
If you are not yet a
child of God, you need to believe in Jesus, repent of sins, confess Christ, and
be baptized to be forgiven of sins (Mark 16:16; Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 2:38;
22:16). When you have done those things, you become a child of God (Gal.
3:26,27; Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Peter 1:22,23). If you sin afterward, you need to pray
for forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:8-10; Prov. 28:13; Matt. 6:12).
Then
pray for God's help.
Matthew 6:13 - Ask God
to "deliver us from evil" (cf. Matt. 26:41). Tell God exactly what
your problem is. Pray often and regularly (1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:2). Pray
especially at the moment when you face temptation (Matt. 26:36-46).
God has promised that,
if you ask His help, He will hear and answer (1 Peter 5:7; Phil. 4:6,7; Eph.
6:11,13,18).
Step 7: Seek Help from Other Christians.
James 5:16 -
Christians should confess their faults to one another so they can pray for one
another. We should bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2). If our sins have
harmed specific individuals, we should apologize to them (Matt. 5:23,24).
When we are fighting
an especially difficult habit, it may help to choose one or two special counselors
to talk with regularly. They can give us Bible passages and good advice about
how to change. They can encourage us. It may motivate us just to know that
others are aware of our problem. And they can surely pray for us.
Public church meetings
are especially designed to give encouragement (Heb. 10:24,25; 3:12,13; Eph.
4:15,16). We need to attend regularly for many reasons, but especially we need
encouragement as we try to become what God wants us to be.
Step 8: Diligently Practice What is Right.
1 Corinthians 15:58 -
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work. Abundant,
steadfast work is needed.
We have discussed
several steps to prepare us to change, but none of them can substitute for hard
work and dedicated effort. All the good attitudes in the world will not get the
job done until we follow through with action. God does not promise change will
be easy, but He promises it is possible if we work diligently according to His
word.
James 1:22-25 - Be
doers of the word, not just hearers. Habits are formed by repeated action. We
learn to ride a bicycle by forcing ourselves to practice, even when it feels
unnatural and uncomfortable. But repetition produces a habit that then feels
natural and enjoyable.
So we change to serve
God only when we compel ourselves to do what we know is right and repeat it
until it becomes "second nature." (See also Rom. 6:1-23; Matt. 7:21;
Luke 6:46.)
Step 9: Substitue Good Habits for Bad Ones.
Ephesians 4:22-32 - Do
not just put off the old man. Put on
the new man. Note the examples: Speak truth instead of falsehood (v25), work
and give to others instead of stealing (v28), speak good instead of evil (v29),
show kindness and forgiveness instead of anger and bitterness (v31,32).
Matthew 12:43-45 - A
demon left a man but later found the man's life still empty. He moved back in
bringing seven other demons with him! Jesus applied this to Israel, but it is a
general principle.
"Nature hates a
vacuum." Remove the air from a bottle, and it will try to get back in.
Fill the bottle with something substantial, and the air stays out. So your life
cannot stay a spiritual void. It will fill with good or evil. Replace bad
habits with good and the bad is less likely to return.
For example, suppose
you determine to watch less TV, so you turn it off, but sit in front of it with
nothing else to do. Soon you will turn it on again. But if you become actively
involved in family activities, Bible study, etc., soon you will replace it with
other habits.
For every bad habit
you "put off," find some useful activity to "put on" in its
place.
Step 10: Avoid Temptation.
Matthew 6:13 - We
should pray, "lead us not into temptation." If we pray this, surely
we obligate ourselves to avoid people, places, and situations that tempt us (cf.
Rom. 13:14).
1 Corinthians 15:33 -
Evil company corrupts good habits. Note: "Do not be deceived." Many
people think they can return to bad company without returning to bad habits.
They are deceived!
Many habits - such as
drinking, smoking, drug abuse, gambling, and sexual promiscuity - are begun and
continued because of "peer pressure." Breaking such habits by
themselves is hard enough, but it is far more difficult when
"friends" urge us to continue them (1 Peter 4:3,4; Prov. 13:20; Ex.
23:2).
Psalm 26:5 - We should
hate the congregation of evildoers. Too often people say, "I won't drink
(or dance or gamble, etc.). I'll just go to the tavern (or dance hall or
casino) to be with my friends." When people have gathered together for the
purpose of practicing sin, Christians belong somewhere else! (Cf. 2 Cor.
6:14-18; Eph. 5:11.)
You cannot change a
bad habit while continuing to run with the "crowd" that caused the
habit. Changing the habit will require changing your friends because the
"friends" are part of the habit!
Step 11: Face One Day at a Time.
Matthew 6:33,34 - Do
not worry about tomorrow. Today's temptations will be enough to handle today.
Handle tomorrow's temptations tomorrow - if tomorrow comes.
Often people quit
trying to serve God because they are overwhelmed by the sacrifices required to
live the rest of their lives for God. But ask yourself this: "Can I
practice what is right today - just today?" Of course you can. So when you
get up each morning, promise yourself and God, "I will live today for
God." Don't worry about handling tomorrow. If it comes, you can handle it
the same way you will handle today.
Two men were climbing
a steep path up a tall mountain. One looked to the top and asked, "How
will we ever make it?" The other replied, "One step at a time."
And that is the only way for you to change yourself.
Step 12: Be Patient.
Romans 2:7 - We
receive eternal life if we continue patiently in well doing. We must be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work (1 Cor. 15:58).
Galatians 6:9 - Let us
not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not
lose heart. Your habits did not develop overnight and will not likely disappear
overnight. It will take time. If you fall, repent, and ask God's forgiveness.
But get up and go on. Do not give up. (1 John 1:8-2:2)
2 Peter 3:18 -
Becoming a mature Christian is a process of growth. You are born again as a
baby and gradually grow up in Christ. You may look at mature Christians and
think, "Why can't I be like them?" But they probably took years to
mature. Do not be impatient with yourself.
As a child grows, you may notice small changes
from day to day. But look at pictures from years ago and you will see amazing
differences. So you may not see much change in your service to God today
compared to yesterday. But if you diligently apply the steps taught in God's
word, after a period of 5, 10, or 20 years you will see significant changes
compared to where you began.
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