Family Devotional
Habits
Habits are the things we do over and over. Find out what God has to say about good and bad habits.
What Are Your Habits?
Have you ever brushed your teeth before bed, put your shoes on the exact same foot first every morning, or sat in the very same spot at the dinner table without even thinking about it? That’s because those actions have become habits! A habit is something you do over and over again until your brain does it on autopilot. Some habits are super helpful, but other times, we catch ourselves doing sneaky bad habits—like biting our nails, whining when it’s time to clean up, or grabbing a screen the second we wake up.
The truth is, our daily habits are super powerful because they slowly build who we are and shape how we live! Good habits help us grow stronger, honor our parents, and stay close to God, while bad habits can trap us and make us feel stuck doing things that make us sad inside. God cares deeply about our routines because he wants us to build strong, healthy habits that help us win at following Jesus every single day!
Romans 7:15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
So how do we break away from bad habits and start building awesome new ones? First, give yourself a quick habit checkup! Pause and ask yourself: “Is this thing I do over and over bringing me closer to Jesus, or is it pulling me away?” If you realize you have a bad habit—like talking back, hitting snooze, or jumping straight to complaining when plans change—don’t get discouraged. Even the apostle Paul admitted that choosing the right thing can feel like a super tough battle!
You don’t have to break bad habits all by yourself because Jesus is ready to give you power and self-control! Try replacing a negative habit with a positive life hack: instead of grabbing your tablet first thing in the morning, say a quick thank-you prayer to God. Instead of complaining about chores, put on your favorite worship song and power through them. When you train your brain to practice good habits every day, you’ll shine bright and show Jesus’ amazing love to everyone around you!
Talk About It
- If you had to pick one super funny or silly habit to practice for a whole day—like talking in a robot voice or hopping on one foot everywhere—what would you choose?
- What is our main Bible truth today, and where can we find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a annoying or bad habit you struggled to break, and how did you finally overcome it?
- Why does it feel so easy to slip into bad habits when we are tired or frustrated, and how can Jesus help us make wise choices instead?
- What is one awesome new habit our family can start practicing together every single day this week to help us grow closer to God?
Stop Your Stinkin Thinkin
Have you ever taken off your shoes after playing outside all afternoon in the hot summer sun, and a super gross, super stinky smell filled the whole room? Yuck! Just like old, dirty socks can make a room smell terrible, bad habits and negative thoughts can create a whole lot of “stinkin’ thinkin'” inside our brains that ruins our day and makes us feel down.
The truth is, long before a habit becomes something you actually do, it always starts as a simple thought in your head. When your thinking gets stinky with bad attitudes like “this isn’t fair,” “I’m going to get back at them,” or “I can’t do this,” your habits end up smelling pretty bad, too! But God loves us so much that he doesn’t leave us trapped in negative thinking—he gives us his Holy Spirit to completely renew our minds!
Ephesians 4:23-24 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
So how do you actually throw away stinkin’ thinkin’ and swap it for God’s truth? The Bible says it’s a lot like taking off dirty clothes and putting on a fresh, clean jacket every single day! Whenever a rotten thought pops into your head at school or during a game, you don’t have to keep wearing it. You can pause, toss that bad attitude in the trash, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you think like Jesus instead.
Whenever you start to feel annoyed, jealous, or ready to complain, try a quick mind-check life hack! Ask yourself: “Is this thought helping me act like Jesus, or is it making my attitude stink?” You can choose to replace negative thoughts with God’s promises by reminding yourself that you are loved, patient, and strong in Christ. When you practice swapping out rotten thoughts for God’s good thoughts every day, you’ll win the battle in your mind and shine his amazing love to everyone around you!
Talk About It
- If you had to invent the most hilariously stinky air freshener spray in the world, what terrible smell would it taste or smell like?
- What is our main Bible truth today, and where can we find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was a negative or stinky thought pattern you used to struggle with, and how did you learn to change it?
- Why is it so easy to fall into stinkin’ thinkin’ when a friend gets something you wanted or when plans change unexpectedly, and how can Jesus help us flip our attitude?
- What is one practical phrase or Bible truth our family can speak out loud together this week whenever anyone catches themselves using stinkin’ thinkin’?
Step Into Good Habits
Have you ever watched someone put on running shoes, tie the laces tight, and take that very first step down the sidewalk? They don’t instantly cross a marathon finish line in one giant leap! Instead, every single step they take adds up, moving them forward foot by foot. Learning to live the way God wants us to live works the exact same way—it happens one small choice at a time.
The truth is, building a life that pleases God isn’t about doing one huge, heroic thing once a year. It’s about taking daily steps in the right direction by building good habits! When you choose to obey your parents, speak kind words, and spend time reading your Bible, you are walking with the Holy Spirit. God cares about your everyday choices because each good habit helps you grow stronger and win at following Jesus!
Galatians 5:16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
So what does it actually look like to step into good habits every day? It means pausing before you act and letting the Holy Spirit lead your direction! When you feel like slamming your door, complaining about homework, or ignoring your chores, that’s your old, selfish nature trying to take the driver’s seat. Instead of taking a step backward into bad habits, you can stop, ask Jesus for help, and take a positive step forward by choosing patience, self-control, and kindness.
Whenever you face a tough choice at home or school, give yourself a quick direction check! Ask yourself: “Is this next choice taking a step toward Jesus, or taking a step away from Him?” You don’t have to walk this path all by yourself because the Holy Spirit gives you the power to make wise decisions every single day. As you keep practicing good habits one step at a time, you’ll shine bright and show Jesus’ amazing love to everyone around you!
Talk About It
- If you could invent a pair of super-futuristic, high-tech shoes, what awesome special power or funny sound effect would they have every time you take a step?
- What is our main Bible truth today, and where can we find it in the Bible?
- Parents, when you were kids, what was one good habit your parents encouraged you to practice, and how did it help you as you grew older?
- Why is it sometimes really hard to make a good choice when you are tired or annoyed with a sibling, and how can the Holy Spirit help you step in the right direction?
- What is one practical good habit our family can choose to step into together every single day this week?
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