Have you ever tried to quit a habit that you knew wasn’t good for you? Suddenly, you find yourself constantly tempted to fall back into your old patterns (Romans 7:18-20).
The same thing happens with sin: when you finally decide to surrender to God and quit the thing you know has been creating distance between you and Him, SUDDENLY the devil remembers you exist, and literally EVERYTHING becomes an obstacle to prevent you from reaching that goal. The devil really works hard.
There’s a habit I’ve been trying to get rid of for years! Quitting the problematic habit itself isn’t the problem, but rather the other innocent habits that lead to the problematic one. Given the fact that I keep getting tempted over and over again, I decided to quit the innocent habits altogether to avoid what comes after (this right here is the REAL struggle). It’s not the first time I’ve tried to quit, and sometimes it feels like a trance; before you know it, you’re back in the habit.
What follows is shame, guilt, regret… distance from God, because now you have to go back to Him after breaking your promise.
There are always people who give advice: “Oh, you should just read your Bible, just pray in the moment, or start speaking in tongues…” Hello? If it was that easy, I wouldn’t be struggling in the first place.
There’s no point in trying to endure without action. An alcoholic going to the bar every day for the vibes and music will eventually end up drinking the alcohol he’s been abstaining from. The only thing to do is RUN and stay as far away as possible from whatever habit it is you have.
For the past month, I’ve been able to keep this habit far away, but it feels like there are triggers everywhere. Suddenly, the urge to go back rises, or you remember the good times you had when you were indulging. So far I’ve been able to maintain control but I still have to remind myself daily; keep my eyes on the price and shut down the voices in my head trying to make up excuses.
The flesh likes to be comfortable. It doesn’t like change; it doesn’t like struggle. But we aren’t flesh! We are spirit, and therefore we should be doing the things spirit men ought to do (John 3:6).
Being controlled by our flesh isn’t the way. It dulls our senses, leads us astray, and keeps us comfortable when we’re supposed to be on the battlefield.
In this month of May, what is holding you back? What habits are you struggling with? What is keeping you from your God?
Pray to God about it. Be real, raw, and honest. Why is it a problem for you, and why do you want to change?
Put it into action: If it’s inappropriate clothing, maybe it’s time for a change of wardrobe. If it’s laziness, get an accountability partner (James 5:16).
Change doesn’t happen all at once or in a straight line. Prepare to stumble. Prepare to fail. When you do, don’t hide from God for too long, because the enemy will take advantage of the situation. Run back to Him and start all over. It’s not over until it’s over. God never promises we won’t face temptation but He gave us everything we need to stand strong: prayer, the Word, the Holy Spirit, instructions and community.
I pray this month of May will bring the grace and strength you need to carry on!
Stay Blessed x
