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?