How long does it take to break a bad habit? You’ve probably heard 21 days or 28 days or 30 days or various other days. I’m going to give you the correct answer. The real answer is “It depends.” You just work at it until you accomplish your goal. Yes, I said “work at it.” Don’t give in and if you fall down, get up and get back at it.
That is my advice, but wouldn’t you like Jesus’ teaching on it? It is found in today’s text:
Matthew 12:43-45
“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”
Here is a summary of this teaching: If you have a bad habit (in this story an unclean spirit) and you send it away, you absolutely must do one thing – replace it! If you don’t, Jesus said, the bad will come back and makes things even worse. If you don’t replace it, then you will fail.
Not all replacements work for all people, but find something good to replace the bad. Find what works for you.
For example:
If you need to stop watching television, learn to read. If you hate to read, find a book that really interests you or even listen to a book. Whatever works, do it. Do something or the pull of the old way will call you back.
If you mindlessly snack on too much sugar, find healthy foods. You will learn to like them.
If you want to break the habit of sleeping too late, schedule exciting things for the early morning.
Don’t just kick out the bad habit. Replace it with something better. That is not my advice. That is Jesus’ teaching.
Lonnie Davis