Breaking a Bad Habit

Still talking...

Now, if you know me, you know I’m a talker! Too often I simply speak what’s in my head or my heart and realize, too late, I’ve said too much or something I shouldn’t have said. You see, I best process everything inside by speaking it or even writing it! I must get the words outside of me. Daily journaling enables me to sort out what is running through my mind. However, with no one in the house to bounce things off of, I become a walking “talk” bomb! I am ashamed to say that I often explode with words when I should have kept silent! Doing so has sometimes caused heartache, injury, and even anger in the recipient of my explosion.

David said in Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” In Psalm 19:14, he expressed another of his heart’s desires, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

I ask God every day for those same things; however, I still blow it time and time again! What am I to do? The Apostle Paul must have had issues in his life that left him with the same question, for he wrote in 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.” It’s nice to know someone as close to Christ as Paul had the same concern, but it doesn’t change the fact that I want to change and struggle to do so.

The truth is, it’s a habit that I absolutely must break! So how do I do that? I believe there are four steps necessary to being set free from habits that are harmful to others, to ourselves, and to God’s Name.

1) Confess the sin habit to God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

Father, I confess this bad habit to you. I know it hurts others, hurts me, and hurts You, too. I’m sorry! Please forgive me and purify my heart, mind, soul, spirit, and body. Thank you! Amen.

2) Confess the sin habit to others, especially those who have been hurt by it. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16

Today I confess this sin to you, my reader. If I have hurt you with my words or my voice, will you please forgive me? At this moment, please say a quick prayer for me that God will heal me of this bad habit. Thank you!

3) Hide God’s Word deep within you. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

It is urgent that I hide the Word of God in my heart and mind. I do that by spending time in His Word daily. This part of step three is easy for me. I have made it a part of my daily routine. However, I  must go a step further by committing portions of His Word to memory so when I need it, it will be there. That is a hard thing for me. My memory is not the best, but I’m working on it. I keep a 3×5 card flip book of verses from Scripture next to my quiet time place. I add verses to it and work on memorizing them by reading them over and over again until they are in my my head.

4) Take control of every thought (habit). “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

There was a period of my life when my thoughts ran rampant into destructive areas. During that season, I learned to use a “STOP” sign. No matter where I was or what I was doing, when I realized my mind was where it should not be, I would immediately put up my “stop sign” ~ the spoken name of “JESUS!” I needed to hear His Name not simply think it. The moment I heard His Name, I came to a screeching halt on the path I was walking. There was something about hearing His Name that caused me to stop and change direction! At that moment, I would begin to “take captive” the thoughts that were bombarding my mind by using Philippians 4:8, “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” As I took one “whatever” at a time and thought of something “true” or “lovely”, I would finally get my mind back to where God wanted it to be.

I think this same action can work for thinking before I speak! I must STOP, speak the Name of Jesus, and think of something “noble” or admirable” to say regarding what is in my mind. I can also speak to my mind David’s words, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD…” Perhaps I can then have the strength to be silent! I believe it will also work for any other ungodly habit that takes root in us.

I would love it if God would step in, wave a magic wand, and “poof!” Only sweet, thoughtful, encouraging, and kind words would come from my lips. Then again, how would I grow in my walk with Him if everything were that easy?

My heart’s desire is too grow in Him ~ to become more and more like Him! I long for all aspects of my life to be holy as He is holy! Therefore, today I commit myself to doing my part in the process.

You may be struggling with something you believe to be much weightier than talking too much. What habit do you struggle with that needs to be broken? Will you take these necessary steps to see the bondage broken in your life? If you want someone to pray for or with you about it, please send me an email at mjdowning1970@gmail.com. I will respond, and I will pray!