Breaking Bad Habits
We stop bad habits by starting good patterns
We are dealing this week with some questions that came out of a live podcast from South Bend, Indiana. I want to give you some practical ways to deal with the reality of trying to overcome bad habits and our sin nature.
Here’s the related questions, “I really do love God, but, I keep doing the same things over and over. How can I break my bad habits.“ And another question on the same theme, “ I am a Christian but I struggle to get rid of my addictions. I ask for forgiveness every day but I can’t seem to get over the addiction. What do I do?“
Spiritual formation is the key to overcoming sinful habits. It really is more simple than it seems. The problem is our dedication and commitment to our own discipleship. It is evident that spiritual formation is one of the greatest needs of this generation.
We have published many times the findings from Barna and Pew forum that the Millennial and the Gen Z sets have an 11% and 4% biblical worldview respectively. Additionally, only 33% of Gen Z can name half of the 10 Commandments.
This is a lack of theology. A lack of spiritual formation. If we are going to stop bad habits we must start good patterns.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
So what is spiritual formation? Spiritual formation is good habits. It can be done two ways:
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
The best way to describe spiritual formation is spiritual ethic and a biblical value. It has been called devotions or spiritual disciplines. This would include prayer, fasting, reading, worship, giving, sharing our faith, and many other disciplines. Throughout this blog we have detailed these disciplines often. You can search for practical ways in the search bar above on how to do these things.
It is not enough for spiritual leaders to simply tell teenagers that they have to pray or read or worship more. Spiritual leaders must define these practically so that it is easier for teenagers to understand what we are saying when we call them to the spiritual disciplines.
Here is what I mean by becoming practical.
Instead of telling students they have to pray more effectively, we must show students how to pray more effectively. Give them practical advice such as praying eight minutes a day, praying the scriptures, using worship in prayer, doing prayer walks, praying with others, or even being silent and listening during prayer. Each of these things will increase the success of teenagers becoming young people of prayer.
COMMITMENT TO THE YTH MINISTRY
At first thought, people may not think about the importance of YTH ministry in the life of a teenager. But this is a critical success factor when it comes to spiritual formation in young people’s lives. Especially in a healthy theologically-based YTH ministry. The kind of spiritual formation that can take place in this YTH setting counters the cultural persuasion teenagers are raised in today.
The culture of a YTH ministry is powerful. That may be the presence-based approach, the social media footprint, the healthy community and relationships, and even the opportunities for outreach and mission. Each of these ethics or commitments add to the development of spiritual formation in teenagers.
We need a greater devotion to spiritual formation. Spiritual formation is not just devotions. There’s a big difference between devotions and devotion. We cannot simply say that if we read a proverb a day we will keep the devil away!
FINALLY
In Revelation chapter 3, there is a great example of how spiritual formation can stop bad habits by starting new patterns.
John the apostle quoted Jesus saying that we must be cold or hot rather than lukewarm. This is an interesting concept. It comes from the digging of wells.
Back in the first century wells would be dug as water sources. If the wells were dug deeper than 20 feet, the water table would be much cooler. But if the wells were not dug very deep, the water would be much warmer. I think we all can see the importance of this concept that Jesus was talking about.
It takes spiritual discipline to dig deep. But the results will be spiritual formation and biblical maturity that break bad habits.