Changing Habits

By David Bragg

    A habit is the resulting action of a disengaged mind. One may not realize he is biting his nails while another suddenly finds himself absentmindedly munching on junk. Some habits are spiritually devastating (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) while others promote spiritual maturity (Daniel 6:10). Between the two extremes lay habits ranging in varying shades of gray.
    One factor renders a fatal blow to any habit: thought. Especially for the bad habit, thought interrupts the thoughtless actions throwing a mental “monkey wrench” in the mind idling in neutral. It is far from a risky venture to assume that everyone who reads this has, will and needs to devote thought and attention to changing some action that has grown habitual.
    Everyone has habits. Many need to be changed. The evil one needs to be replaced by the good one and it in turn needs to be replaced by the better one. While it is true that change hurts, it is also true in some cases that not changing kills! Even this early in the New Year, many good resolutions are already being broken. Take some time to honestly examine the habits in your life.

- David Bragg serves as one of the ministers at the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/ or his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/