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Does the Bible say anything about habits?

The Bible doesn't mention habits per se, but does give us instruction about several spiritual disciplines and godly attitudes we are to practice regularly.

This passage, from 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22, offers several: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."

Everyone has habits, from the mundane—such as brushing your teeth at a certain time during the day, to the good—such as reading your Bible every day, to the bad—such as grumbling and complaining.

Some of our habits are a-moral. But some of our habits are issues of sin, like consistent complaining or lying or adultery. When thinking about our habits and if or how they might need to change, we need to know what God's Word says. His Word tells us to stop those things that are sinful and start those things that are godly. For example, we are not to be drunk, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:15–18). We are not to be sexually immoral, but should remember that our bodies belong to God and care for them as His temple (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). Understanding that our bodies are a temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us with other health habits as well.

God says we should be allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our minds (Romans 12:2) to stop habits that do not please God and start those which do. One habit that will help us greatly is found in 2 Corinthians 10:5: "… take every thought captive to obey Christ." As we come to know God through His Word and engage with Him in prayer, our thoughts will more readily align with His. As our minds change, so, too, will our habits.

When we join God's family, we have the opportunity to continually put on a new nature and shed the old (Colossians 3:9–10). Jesus said that to love Him, we must obey Him (John 14:23). Changing our bad habits into good takes a certain amount of intentionality and willpower, but it is not something we ultimately do in our own strength. God transforms us (2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:17) and says He will help us (Philippians 1:6; 2:12–13; 4:13).

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