Twenty-One Days Part II
Think of building a muscle. As you consistently work it, it will become strong. The same concept applies to thought patterns. Maybe your thoughts constantly flow in the direction of fear, worry, or envy. Maybe you’re overcome with comparison when you scroll through social media. There are always thoughts behind habits. Immediately, begin casting those thoughts down. You have to counter the habit of ruminating on them and allowing them to go unchecked. When you feel the urge to pick up the phone and text that person you know isn’t good for you, immediately start talking to God. Tell him what’s on your mind and what you need at that moment. You have to counter the habit of seeking comfort, love, or validation from this person. Or maybe you have to counter the habit of running to them when you’re lonely instead of running to God. Be committed to going against the grain moment by moment, day by day.
Our heart, mind, will, and emotions should take orders from us. The problem is many of us have been led by pain, trauma, unhealthy coping mechanisms or our own sin. These things train us to do the wrong things over and over again and they become habits. Our habits are formed by the way we perceive things and deal with them. For example, if you eat a cookie every time you’re upset, you may not know how to handle difficult situations and the emotions that arise. Food brings temporary comfort and relief. This is unhealthy training. Now, you have to retrain yourself to not eat for emotional support.
You can’t do the same things over and over again and expect different results. Making the same decisions will land you in the same exact place and it becomes a frustrating cycle of desiring better but being unable to obtain it. This is a sure way to stifle forward movement, which is imperative to your chapter one. The concept of making different choices is simple but it’s not always easy, especially when you’re trying to do it in your own strength. Here’s the cheat code to moving in a new direction: allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.
Listen, the Holy Spirit will be the best partner you could ever have if you let Him. In John 14:16, we see that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to be with us forever. The Amplified version of John 14:26 calls the Holy Spirit our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Stand-by. The Greek word for Comforter describes someone “summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid,” and that’s just one definition. For an in-depth study on the word Comforter, click here.
Galatians 5:16 says that if we walk in the Spirit, then we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. The Amplified version says walk habitually in the Spirit.
But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the] sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
So, when you feel yourself being pulled into old habits of overthinking, lashing out, or procrastinating, the Holy Spirit leads you to pray, write in your journal, or confide in a trusted friend. It’s up to you to follow his lead. He helps you to choose something different, thus stripping destructive habits of their power and giving you strength to build new ones.
Let’s be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying and where he is leading. Don’t focus on breaking bad habits. Focus on allowing yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit and inevitably, you’ll avoid the things you shouldn’t do. This concept applies to everything in your life. For the next twenty-one days, let’s simply choose to do something different.
