Through Christ, you can conquer your habit

yinka ogunlami

November 10, 2015 10:35 AM

"And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest."

Memory Verse: Hebrews 3:1 - "And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest."

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

Let’s say you’re trying to lose weight, but you love doughnuts. How can you overcome temptation? By repeating, ‘I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts’? No, the more you think about doughnuts, the more you’re going to want them.

Instead you must focus on something else (or someone else – Jesus!) who can help you overcome the temptation. Your problem is not in the doughnut shop, it’s in your mind. That’s where victory is won or lost.

Paul writes: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:1-2 NLT).

You can lock yourself up in a room and still think about doughnuts. On the other hand, you can get your mind on Jesus, draw strength from Him, and drive victoriously past every doughnut shop in town.

The same principle applies to any habit you want to break and any sin you want to conquer. Does victory come easily, or overnight? No, Satan tempted Jesus repeatedly in the wilderness, and he’ll keep tempting you until he realises his strategies no longer work. ‘Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him’ (Matthew 4:11 NKJV). Through Christ, you can conquer your habit.

Bible in a Year: Ezek 18-19; Heb 12;

yinka ogunlami