Breaking a Habit or Other Disorder

We face battles in our lives over various issues and problems: Its part of the fight of faith. For example: A weight issue or eating disorder, a habit or addiction, anxiety or fear, a negative or unwanted way of thinking, or a character flaw that needs correcting.

In such circumstances we can expect the battle to have two-phases: First, a battle to get free and second, a battle to stay free. The battle to get free is for break-though, the battle to stay free is for establishing a new pattern of behaviour. The first is usually a single event, the second is a process in which the new behaviour pattern is established as the norm.

Some years ago, I faced an extended period of depression and there seemed to be no way out of it. I had been let down quite badly by people I trusted and could not get over the hurt and anger I felt, all of which went inward. My attitude and behaviour were both badly affected.

Eventually I was shaken into action when I realised I had to decide whether I wanted God to remain in my life, or would I go my own way?

I couldn’t ditch God, so I asked Him what I should do. The reply was: “Do what is in your hand, but with a right attitude, and stop complaining.” This did not excite or inspire me, but I set myself to obey and trust Him to work things out. I was a group leader in our church at the time, and Susan (my wife) and I had a young family.

Over a period of a few months things began to change for the better. People near us got saved. The Home Group thrived and grew. My family were happier. I began to enjoy life again. The atmosphere around me changed for the better. We had breakthough!

Next, I had to sustain my newfound passion and enthusiasm for a period of months, in order to establish the new level of living.

So, in this case, the process occurred first, followed by breakthough, and a further period of process until the new life-style had been established. The depression and bad attitude then became a thing of the past.

It is this process which makes you rich. It requires persistence, but the outcome is guaranteed from the start, when God initiated the recovery project and I agreed to cooperate. We can make the process hard work by being too focused on the outcome. If we do this we can miss the value and enjoyment of the process of getting to know Father and Holy Spirit better, and learning by practice how to lean on Him. We learn how to hear Him and understand His ways, on a daily basis. It’s like building a new concrete path in the garden: You build the wooden shuttering to the shape of the path. The Holy Spirit pours in the concrete. When it has dried and solidified the shuttering can be removed and we have the substance – a permanent change.