3 Unhealthy habits you should replace

​​These are three unhealthy (even sinful) habits I’ve identified in my own life. I can’t write this today without admitting that I’m still in the process of replacing them with healthy habits. If you choose to join me in this process, let’s start off by not being too hard on ourselves. Be reminded of God’s grace. Let Him be your motivation for a more balanced, healthy and God-focused life. 

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1. Emotional eating 
So let’s talk about reaching for that chocolate bar at the end of a difficult day. Emotional eating is not just bad for your physical health, but even for your spirit. Why would we seek comfort in food if the Lord is our Comforter (Ps 119:79)? When you’re having a rough day it’s a great opportunity to stretch your faith by trusting God. Instead we try to numb our emotions with food, in order to handle it ourselves. 

Obviously, emotional eating is motivated by our emotions. Ironically, I’ve found that eating healthy boosts my emotional state; while overeating and eating too much junk food usually makes me feel worse. Lastly, unhealthy eating isn’t good for your physical health. So if you’ve even considered justifying your actions; please note that emotional eating is actually bad for you on a physical, spiritual and emotional level. Emotional eating is a really bad habit.
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So how do you replace it? 

​Prayer and fasting
When you’re facing a difficult situation or time in your life, make a deliberate decision to turn to God and not to numb your pain or stress with food or anything else. While cultivating this new habit, also ask others to pray with you.
Fasting is like moving in the opposite spirit of emotional eating. Fasting is the ultimate way of finding your comfort in Jesus and not in food. 
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“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”       -Eph 6:18

2. Social media
Suggesting that you are most likely reading this article because you came across it on social media; I am not about to write social media off entirely as a bad habit. In fact, there are many great advantages to this modern day form of communication. However, being obsessed with checking your notifications or friend’s profiles; endangers your spiritual health.

Social media sets a fake, worldly standard of what you ought to be. This standard is often very contradicting to the Biblical standard of holiness (2 Cor 7:1). Frequent scrolls through my home feed, often numbs my consciousness towards striving for holiness and resisting temptation. I’m humbled by admitting this; but this is due to comparing my own life and situation to that of others. As a young single woman; I often envy posts by women my age; who seem to be in a happy relationship. I begin to doubt God’s divine timing and plan for my life. Another nasty comparison I make is comparing my physical appearance to others. This causes either ungodly insecurities or a sense of illegitimate pride.
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But how do you resist this temptation?

"Rather than immersing your heart in the gratifying culture of social media; why not soak your heart in regular devotion. "

Read the Word
Teach yourself to habitually open your YouVersion application instead of Instagram. If you are spending more time on Facebook than in The Book – you are setting yourself up to be swept up with the immoralities of the world. Rather than immersing your heart in the gratifying culture of social media; why not soak your heart in regular devotion. 
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3. The way you talk
Gossip might seem like a modern day problem, but Solomon already warns against this poison in biblical times (Prov 11:13; 16:28; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20, 22). I think as girls we often struggle with this. Due to our own insecurities we say negative things to downplay the achievements of others. In high school the people who were gossiped about most were usually the most popular. As a matter of fact, this is still true in the adult world. People always have something to say about those who have achieved more than they have or carry a greater responsibility. Apart from discussing those of influence, people also like to discuss the outcasts. Gossip is entirely based on making the gossiper feel better about him or herself. 

Most of us have been on the other side of gossip to and know that it ultimately hurts. I hate the idea of people saying things about me behind my back. The thought of being discussed without being able to defend myself always makes me feel “not good enough.”      
Another discussion issue is that of negative talk. In today’s culture people talk negative about politics, their jobs, their schools, public transport, customer service and even their church. This is the type of attitude that makes one bitter. People expect that every situation will have the worst outcome. This attitude is highly contagious and kills hope and joy.
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So what do you say?

Speak life
Seek the positive in every situation and share that instead of just adding another negative remark. When you’re in a situation where someone is being harshly judged without even being present to defend themselves; rather say something positive about that person. Remind those you are talking to that the person being discussed is chosen by God, just as they are and that He loves them just the same. Another great way of speaking life is by giving compliments. Where gossip hurts; compliments builds up. Make the world a better place through what you say.  
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"Where gossip hurts; compliments builds up."

​In a world where healthy lifestyles are trending; why are Christians not living healthier lives? Why are we not the trendsetters? Start being healthy today through prayer and fasting; reading the Word and speaking life.
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