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Changing Habits
Hosea 12:3 "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:" Most bad habits are good habits turned inside out. When you look at the life of Jacob, he did not change his habits, he just changed how he used his habits. It was how he used his habits that determined whether they were good or bad. For instance, in the verse above it talks about Jacob taking "his brother by the heel in the womb." In the early part of Jacob's life he used the desire to get his way to deceive his brother and father. The verse above plainly shows us in the womb he fought and struggled to get his way. Yet, in the very same verse it shows us "by his strength he had power with God:" The same habit of trying to get his way was turned to good when he wrestled with God and would not let Him go until he was blessed. It was how he used his habit that made it good or bad. Likewise, most of your bad habits could be used for good if you would choose to do so. For instance, stubborn habits are bad when you choose to be so stubborn that you won't listen to authority or do right when you have been told you're wrong. Yet, you could use the same stubborn habit to stand for truth and not change when others are pressuring you to change. If you will use the core of your stubborn habits to do right, then you can change your bad habits into good habits. If you are going to change your bad habits into good habits then you must first identify your habits. Most people know what their habits are, they just tend to close their eyes to their bad habits. You will never change your habits until you first identify your habits. Second, find ways to use your habits for good. For instance, if one of your habits is selfishness, then use your selfish habits to do good. If you're selfish, you like to get all the good for yourself, so you could use your selfishness to do right so that God can bless you. I know the Pharisees who read this will criticize me, but God used our selfishness to get us to consider salvation. God said if you would get saved, He would take you to Heaven where there are mansions and golden streets. God used your selfishness to get you saved. Whatever the core of your habit is, identify a way to use it for God. When you are using your habit for good, then you won't be using it for bad. Everybody has bad habits, but those bad habits can become good habits if you choose to use them for God's work. I challenge you to turn your bad habits into good habits. Though you may still have the habit, you are simply using that habit for good. However you choose to use your habit will determine whether it is good or bad.
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