Andrew Fountain - Forming Helpful Habits

Forming Helpful Habits

The goal is to learn some ways of replacing
unhelpful habits with helpful ones
because our lives are of great value to God
and we live for him.

Ephesians 4:17–24

17. So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
    …
20. But that is not how you learned Christ!—
21. assuming you heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus.
22. to put off the old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23. to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24. and to put on the new self who has been created in God’s image — in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

Seven steps to changing habits

1. Be clear about your goals
2. Identify the trigger
3. The weakness of the flesh (“Stop System”)
4. Replace the old with the new
5. Use and strengthen the “Go System”
6. Don’t crash when you fail
7. Ask others to help you

A good habit

• “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” [Dan 6:10]
• What could be your trigger for a daily time with God?