Do you brush your teeth before bed without even thinking about it? Do you always sit in the same chair at dinner? Those are habits, things you’ve done so many times that they happen on autopilot. Some habits are great. Others, like biting your nails or grabbing a screen the second you wake up, sneak up on us. Your habits matter, because the little things you do every day shape who you become.
Habits Shape Us
Good habits help you grow, honor your parents, and stay close to God. Bad habits can trap you and make you feel stuck. Even the apostle Paul knew how that felt.
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Have you ever felt like that? You know what’s right, but you keep doing the wrong thing anyway. That’s what a bad habit feels like.
Jesus Helps Us Change
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to stay stuck. Jesus gives you the power to change. The Bible says, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Self-control is part of the fruit the Holy Spirit grows in us (Galatians 5:22-23).
Swap Bad for Good
The best way to break a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. Even Jesus had good habits. He got up early to pray (Mark 1:35). Daniel prayed three times a day, “just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). You could say a thank-you prayer instead of grabbing a tablet first thing in the morning, or play a worship song while you do chores instead of complaining.
The Takeaway
Your habits shape who you become, and Jesus can help you change them. This week, do a habit checkup: “Is this thing I do over and over bringing me closer to Jesus or pulling me away?” If you slip up, don’t give up. Jesus is right there to help.
