I have heard it said that it is extremely difficult to rid oneself of a bad habit without replacing it with a good one. That makes sense to me. As one puts the bad habit behind - whatever it is -- the individual needs something to do or think about to take their mind off of the habit they are trying to kick. I don't feel like I am explaining this very well, but hopefully most of you can understand what I am trying to say.
The energy spent - the time devoted -- the thoughts regarding the old habit should be diverted to another positive activity. If not, then energy goes unused with nothing to do -- time becomes a drag with no activity to fill it and thoughts become idle. If time and thoughts remain empty and energy goes unused for too long they become replaced with something more dangerous than the original habit.
Jesus, the Master teacher, illustrates this perfectly.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." (Luke 11:24-26)
When we rid ourselves of our bad habit and clean up our act and still leave ourselves empty and wanting -- watch out!! The potential is there to become even worse off than you were in the beginning. On the other hand, you can hang in there, find something positive to fill your time and your mind. Use your energies in service to the Lord and (with God's help) become better than you ever thought you could be.
I will share an example from my life. I usually stay awake later than my husband. This is only natural because his work day starts a good bit earlier than mine. After he goes to bed, I have some time to myself. I used to fill that time playing games on the computer or TV. I enjoy playing the bejeweled games and word games. These were part of the service we used to have with DirecTV. OK - so we changed our service package and decided not to have the games anymore (which as it turned out, they stopped offering the service back in March anyway). That left me with time on my hands. And that is when I decided to start this blog. The blog has been good for me because I have studied the Bible on a more regular basis. Learning more and more about God's word has increased my faith and helped me grow as a Christian.
When we become Christians, we become new. We are buried with Christ in baptism and rise to walk in "newness of life." We now serve a risen Savior whereas before we were "of the world." Certain adjustments are made to our way of life. Hopefully, we do study our Bible more and more. We learn to pray. We begin to let our lets shine. We are "transformed by the renewing of our mind." At least that is what we are supposed to do. Sometimes it is difficult. Sometimes we need help from people who are already Christians. Perhaps we need help learning to study the Bible or learning to pray and talk to God. Perhaps we even need some friendship and love; a mentor of sorts.
If we need help as a new Christian, we should ask our minister or Bible class teacher or one of the elders. Someone will study with us, pray with us - counsel us. If we are a faithful, well grounded Christian perhaps our ministry, our gift is befriending a new Christian and helping them grow. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19-20 to teach, baptize and then teach "all things whatsoever I have commanded you." So you see, it is actually pretty much a commandment -- to work with new Christians, to love and help when we can.
If there is something in your life that you need to rid yourself of - go for it. Get rid of your "unclean spirit," figuratively speaking. And then fill yourself up with the Fruits of the Spirit -- literally speaking. There are 9 of them -- so there won't be any room for uncleanness to come back in- let alone bring other with him! Bring in the 8 Christian graces and you will definitely have a full house!!
Galatians 5:22-25 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
I Peter 1:4-8 -- "Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
OK listen to the beautiful promise in verse 8 --"For IF these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Wonderful!! What a blessing! Our God is so good!
Go ahead - you can do it! Throw out the trash. Then bring in the good - the Godly stuff! The Christian graces and Fruits of the Spirit will crush the unclean spirits every single time!
Christ above all things,
Robin
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