Anchor Habits vs. Bad Habits
There is a battle we all struggle through--which habits will we have in our lives? An anchor habit is a pattern that helps us grow spiritually. A small, regular step toward God and what He has for us. Then there are bad habits. The world labels actions like smoking, and nail biting as bad habits. But followers of Jesus understand that any habitual thought or action that is sinful is a pattern that separates us from God and keeps us from being the person He wants us to be.
It is a battle.
We Are Not Powerless
“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5 (NLT)
Those encouraging words remind us that with faith we can develop anchor habits through Jesus Christ.
Let’s look together as some practical faith actions we can make in our life to counter those bad habits that keep us from who God wants us to be.
Faith Actions To Counter Our Bad Habits
Realize Your Default Coping Plan
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
What needs to be removed from your life that gets in the way of your spiritual growth? What persistent sins distract you from God’s plan?
What is it that you default to under stress, pressure, or replacing what God has for you? There are lots of possibilities: Food, sleep, drinking shopping, binge TV, drugs, gaming, over-controlling, porn, withdrawing, gambling, anger outbursts—to name just a few.
Know your coping plan that takes you away from God and ask God to help you avoid those destructive coping plans.
Realize Your Emotional Triggers That Make You Vulnerable
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Guard your emotions. Realize when you are discouraged, when you are physically exhausted, spiritually empty, disconnected, unsure, hurt, resentful, bored, or sad—you are in a place where you are vulnerable to bad habits that pull you from God.
I have a friend who went through a time when his mother passed away, he received a job demotion, and was disconnected from his family. All those events happened at the same time. They were all triggers for him. The result? He made a terrible decision to start a bad habit that was destructive to him, his marriage, and his family.
Ask God For His Help
“And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalm 50:15 (NIV)
Ask God to give you the strength and ability to move toward Him in times of temptation. Just pray. God knows your struggle, your pain and He cares!
Join A Small Group For Support
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
God never meant for you to fight all your battles by yourself. Who is helping you? Who is checking up on you? Who have you invited to check up on you? Who are you checking up on? Who do you allow to ask you the tough questions? You don’t have to tell everybody about your secret bad habits, but you do have to tell somebody.
One great anchor habit is to be involved with a group of people regularly. You will receive support, help, prayer and encouragement, and be able to give the same to others.
Refocus Toward Anchor Habits
Here is a prayer that helps me when I need to ask God’s help with my own bad habits and patterns of sin in my life:
“God, You know all the bad habits and temptations of life that trap me, and you know the tempting situations I face right now. You know the temptations that lay ahead of me this week. So, I am asking for Your help. Help me see clearly the patterns in my life that lead me to bad habits. God, I ask You to change me from the inside out beginning today. Thank You. Amen.”