
Holy Shift: Habits
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. —Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
The steps of a good man are [d]ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. —Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” —Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
ThoughtWordsDecisionsActionsHabitCharacterDestiny
I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 18 … I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. … 24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. … —Romans 7:15, 18-19, 24-25
Three Reasons We Don’t Succeed
1) We focus on the
2) We don’t see progress
• Wrongly conclude: Small good decisions don’t matter that much.
• Wrongly conclude: Small bad decisions don’t matter that much.
It’s the things that no one sees that bring results everyone wants.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9 NIV
3) Our distorted identity
Unwise habits reinforce an unhealthy identity.
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. … 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. —Romans 6:6-7, 18
Positive habits reinforce a healthy identity.