We grow by developing good habits.
How can I become a disciple? By developing disciple habits.
"You have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self which God is continually renewing in his own image to bring you to a full knowledge of himself."
Colossians 3:9-10
Notice it says God is able to make us in His image when we choose to put off old habits and when we choose to put on new habits. That's the way God changes us. Remember, God's number one goal is to make us like Christ -- that's maturity, to become like Christ. He says here that it's by putting off the old habits and putting on new habits is how we become like Christ.
DEFINITIONS OF HABIT - "It is a continual, often unconscious inclination to do a certain activity, acquired through frequent repetition."
What this is saying is that character is simply the habitual way of doing things. If you want to have Christlike character, then you just develop the habits that Christ had. Character is simply the habitual way of doing something. For instance, if I've got the character of kindness, it's because I'm habitually kind. If I have the character of saying "I have discipline", it's because I've developed the habit of being disciplined.
The dictionary also defines habit as "A customary practice" -- something you do over and over."
The fact is that all of us are simply a bundle of habits. If you were to look at your life most of the things you do in life you do by habit -- You get up, you brush your teeth by habit, you shave (if you're a man) by habit. I'll bet, men, when you shave you probably start on the same side ninety percent of the time. When you wash yourself in the shower I bet you habitually start with either your left arm or something like that. We are creatures of habit.
It's easier to form good habits than it is to get rid of bad habits? It is. The way you get rid of bad habits is by replacing them.
What bad habits do you need to replace with some good habits that will help you grow in Christ likeness?
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