HABITS AND ADDICTIONS (Peace Robber#4)
We all have habits. Habits can be good or bad. In simple terms, a habit is a usual way of behaving. Brushing your teeth before bed or taking a morning stroll can be considered as good habits. Lying to others to make yourself feel more important or being impatient with others because they lack your capabilities are considered as bad habits. Addictions are strong and harmful needs or an increased interest to have or do something. Drugs, gambling and alcohol comes quickly to mind. And, people judge people on their dependencies. Today there are more tolerable addictions. Addictions to food, soft drinks, sugar and overspending are more accepted, however they are just as harmful.
Bad habits and addiction robs peace from your heart. Mainly because the mind is not focused on God, but on wherever the dependency lies. How can you think about God, peace, and serenity when your mind is on your next fix?
There is no way the solutions to any addiction is going to be overcome by reading this post. However, I have 3 words to start the journey: ready, willing and able.
Ready: Address the addictions and make sure you are truly ready to overcome them. This should not be a verbal response, but a mental mindset that you are sincerely prepared to kick the addiction. Again, this cannot be done on your own strength. You cannot do it alone. Lean on God. Ask Him how and where to start, then go for it.
Willing: If you are prepared to give up this enslavement, are you willing to listen to God and the people He sends you to help? Are you willing to disassociate yourself with certain people or places? Are you inclined to go through the tough times for a while, maybe longer than you expect? Are you amenable to being patient? Adaptable in changing your present way of thinking and to renew your mind with God? Are you inclined to perform the tasks it takes to overcome your obsession?
Able: In the event you have a setback and begin to indulge again. Are you able to go to God and ask for forgiveness and guidance? Are you capable of forgiving yourself and move forward without beating up yourself for falling short? Are you able to encourage yourself to begin the process again?
In the process of recovery, it may appear the results are not occurring as quickly as you desire, are you able to stop and think about where you are and learn to appreciate every small goal accomplished?
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:8King (KJV).
People will not believe it, but you can have peace while you are breaking your addictions. Peace is a promise. A promise is a reason to expect that anything can happen. And, God promises us peace and strength.
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Psalm 29:11 (KJV).