How to Remove and Replace Your Old Habits

BY RICK WARREN — AUGUST 24, 2016

“Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).

While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.

Let go of the fears that keep you from growing. The truth will set us free, but it often makes us miserable first. The fear of what we might discover if we honestly faced our character defects keeps us living in the prison of denial. Only as God is allowed to shine the light of his truth on our faults, failures, and hang-ups can we begin to work on them. This is why you cannot grow without a humble, teachable attitude.

Stop basing your identity around your “defects.” We say, “It’s just like me to be …” and “It’s just the way I am.” The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be? This fear can definitely slow down your growth.

As I wrote yesterday, good habits take time to develop. Remember that your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband who is faithful to his wife most of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

Remember: You have to practice every day the habits that will make you more like Christ.

“Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15b GW).

Talk It Over

• What bad habit have you let define you?
• How can you humble yourself and show God that you are ready to face your hang-ups?
• What do you need to change about your life — your schedule, who you hang out with, how you spend your free time, etc. — so that you can work every day to develop better habits?