Break the Cycle That’s Breaking Your Life

One Habit to Break — The Power to Change, Part 4

Scripture References

• Judges 16:1
• Proverbs 4:14-15
• James 1:21

Overview

Pastor Craig showed that most people never intend to ruin their lives, yet it happens one small decision, one wrong step, one harmful habit at a time. Real, lasting change begins with spiritual transformation, not mere behavior tweaks. Having already asked “Who do you want to become?” and “What one habit should you start?”, today he pressed a new question: “Based on who you want to become, what one habit do you need to break?”

Context

• This message continues the “Power to Change” series built around Pastor Craig’s book.
• Weeks 1–3 covered identity (spiritual who), motivation (spiritual why), and starting one holy habit (spiritual what).
• Part 4 targets the negative side of the loop: stopping a habit that keeps us from God’s vision for our lives.

Main Points

Nobody plans to mess up — but it happens one step at a time

• A lifetime of poor choices is often summarized in one sentence (“He lost his marriage to addiction”).
• Samson’s downfall illustrates this: 25 miles (≈ 56,250 steps) from Zorah to Gaza, ending in lost strength, sight, and life.

• Illustration: Each of us gets thousands of chances to turn back before destruction; Samson had 56,250, and so do we.

Real change is spiritual transformation, not behavior modification

• We sin because of identity issues: “You do what you do because of what you think of you.”
• James 1:21 calls us to “get rid of every filthy habit,” submitting to God’s implanted word that can save us.

Based on your who, define one habit to break

• You cannot defeat what you do not define.
• Examples: constant phone scrolling, overeating, pornography, substance abuse, chronic criticism, gossip.
• Pastor’s personal target: reducing screen time that steals presence from people and purpose.

Why good habits are hard to start & bad habits hard to quit

• Good habits: pain now, payoff later (first jog is cold, sore, and shows no immediate weight loss).
• Bad habits: payoff now, pain later (cake tastes great now; health problems come later).

• Illustration: Average phone use (≈ 4 hrs/day) equals ~10 years of life staring at a screen.

Strategy 1 — Remove the cue

• Proverbs 4:14-15 repeats the warning: avoid, don’t travel on, turn from the path of evil.
• Habit loop: Cue → Craving → Action → Reward. Eliminating the cue breaks the loop.
• Five common cues:
  1. Place
  2. Time
  3. Mood (HALT: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)
  4. Moments (after a fight, after a test, etc.)
  5. People (“Walk with the wise and become wise; a companion of fools suffers harm”).
• Practical examples: keep the phone out of the bedroom, skip the all-you-can-eat buffet, block adult content, change social circles that normalize the habit.

Strategy 2 — Interrupt the action

• Put the alarm across the room to stop hitting snooze.
• Give an accountability partner your Amazon password to curb impulsive spending.
• Trade a smartphone for a basic phone if pornography persists.

“Why would you resist a temptation in the future if you have the power to eliminate it today?”

Severe habits may require severe measures

• Gambling, drug, alcohol, or sexual addictions often need rehab and professional help.
• Asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.

Lean on the power and grace of Jesus

• We are not what we did; Christ offers freedom: “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”
• Jesus came for sinners, died, and rose so that anyone can be forgiven and made new.
• Real victory comes from Christ in us, stronger than the wrong desires within us.

Key Truths

• Small, repeated choices shape our destiny more than single dramatic moments.
• You can’t change the fruit (behavior) until God changes the root (heart).
• Identify and remove the cue; habits rarely survive in the wrong environment.
• The people you surround yourself with today forecast the person you become tomorrow.
• God’s grace gives 56,250 chances (and more) to turn back—start with the next step.

Response

• Define the one habit that is blocking your spiritual growth.
• List every cue connected to that habit and eliminate or distance yourself from each one.
• Replace idle or vulnerable moments with life-giving practices (prayer, Scripture, exercise, conversation).
• Invite an accountability partner or professional help where needed.
• Daily surrender the battle to Jesus, thanking Him for power that is “made perfect in weakness.”

Closing

Pastor Craig ended by reminding us that our current habits are steering the course of our future. If we don’t like the direction, today is the day to turn. God’s Spirit gives the power to remove every filthy habit, renew the mind, and walk the path of freedom.

“Why would you fight something later if you can get it out of your life today?”

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, forgive me for all of my sins. Jesus, save me and make me brand-new. Fill me with Your Spirit so I can know You, serve You, and follow You for the rest of my life. My life is not my own—I give it all to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”