Feeding Habits

As a Christian, "your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3).  Because that is so, we are called to "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (v. 5).

In contrast with those things of the earthly nature, we are to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (v. 12).  In short, we are to cause our old sinful self to die while allowing our new sanctified self to live.

But how are we to go about doing that?  How do we deal a mortal blow to our old godless habits and give root to the new Christlike ones?  The answer is really quite simple - not necessarily easy but simple: Stop feeding the old and start feeding the new.

Old habits are hard to break because we naturally feed into them.  We often excuse bad behavior by saying, "That's just the way I am," when, in fact, it is just the what I am keeping alive by it the care and attention it needs to live.

How long would your plants live if you didn't water them or your pets if you didn't feed them?  Your addictions have the same need.  I have always had a sweet tooth.  But I find by simply not eating sweets, the desire begins to wain.  I haven't been eating sweets for a few months and I'm not craving them at this point.  It was a bit difficult in the beginning but the addiction is dying.

Again, I'm not saying it is easy, just simple.  What you feed in you will live and grow, what you don't, won't.  Stop keeping all your money for yourself and begin sharing it with those in need, and you will find, in time, that the spirit of greed begins to die while the spirit of generosity takes root.  This principle applies to every bad or good habit in your life.

You may be thinking that you simply don't have the will power to pull it off - to terminate bad habits while tunning up good ones.  I don't doubt that, but you do have the power available: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (v. 17).

Jesus will provide you the power, provided you allow him to nourish you as you spend time in prayer, in the Word, allowing "the peace of Christ to rule in your hearts" (v. 15).  Stop feeding your bad habits and begin allowing Christ to feed righteous ones.  By the power of His Spirit, the old will begin to die and the new take to life.  Jus' Say'n.