*‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9‭-‬11‬* ‭MSG‬‬

Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

 

 

A popular sports magazine once found that, after just two years of retirement, 78 percent of former NFL players were stressed financially or had gone bankrupt. Sixty percent of former NBA players were broke within five years! 

 

 

We all know King Solomon's story. Despite his wisdom, he developed the bad habit of accumulating many wives and concubines, which led to idolatry as some of these women influenced him to worship foreign gods. This ultimately resulted in the downfall of his kingdom! 

 

 

Bad habits deny us the opportunity to carry out exploits in God. Many of them aren't even obvious but half the time you are already knee-deep into a behavior before you realize it’s probably not the best thing to do! 

 

*Dealing with Bad Habits*

 

1. *Truthfulness*

To get back on the right track, we ought to

embrace honesty and transparency in our daily lives. 

Colossians‬ ‭3:9‭a

Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. 

 

2. *Self-Reflection* 

Are our actions, character, and behaviour in line with what the word says about men that were created in God's image? We constantly want to identify areas  where improvement is needed. 

Colossians 3:9b 

It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. 

 

 

3. *Renewal through Knowledge*

We have to be intentional  about seeking knowledge, understanding God's word and refreshing our hearts. 

Colossians 3:10

Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 

 

 

4. *Prayer and Meditation* 

Engaging in corporate and individual prayer sessions strengthen our connection with God. The knowledge of what God says about us become the catalyst for a better prayer life. 

 

 

5. *Community Support*

Surround yourself with a supportive community that shares your faith. Lean on fellow believers for encouragement, accountability, and shared growth. 

Colossians 3:11

Pray with the Bible reference and points listed