Part 2: Leave behind

In part 1, we started to declutter our spiritual homes by deciding what to keep and what to let go of. In this post we are going to take a look at leaving old ways of doing things behind and creating new habits that will honor God.

Recognize faulty thinking

As mentioned in the newsletter earlier this month, I recently have been challenged to change my perspective. I was challenged with a new venture that I want to start, and couldn’t see over all the obstacles that was in my way. I prayed about it and asked the Lord to open my eyes. The end result was, I was so overwhelmed by the challenges, that I didn’t see how God was making a way.

Since then I have changed the way I speak about the venture, checked whether the initial excitement of starting something new was still present and trust the Lord with equipping me for the road ahead.

I wanted to control the outcome, but it was in letting go, that peace came.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show any faulty thinking that you may have. Search for an appropriate scripture to replace it. Speaking out loud: renounce the wrong thought and announce that you come into agreement with what God is saying in his Word.

To leave behind is a choice

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:" Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV

If you read verse 20, Moses gives three steps to show that you have chosen life over death: Loving the Lord, obeying him and committing to him.

1. On a daily basis we are to choose to love, obey and commit.
2. We should pay close attention to what God says in His Word. Seek first the Kingdom of God by immersing yourself in the Word and praying about everything.
3. By committing to God, we will not be led astray by false Gods.

Therefore, leaving behind is also a daily choice. It is a choice that lead to blessings in the Lord; a key to live a life of abundance in all areas of our lives.

Creating new habits that aligns with your new Spirit

Starting new habits starts with recognizing what needs to be changed and then implementing small changes at a time.

Habits can hinder your growth if you don’t take care. You have struggles, but you keep on doing the same thing and expect a different result instead of changing what you are doing.

In your journal:

List any habits that the Holy Spirit shows you that are hindering your spiritual or mental growth.

For each of these, find a scripture that you can declare over it to start renewing your mind in that area.

Commit to start replacing these habits with new Spirit inspired ones. Take one at a time, commit to declare scripture over it every time you want to slip into old ways, and intentionally replace it with the new one.

In practice, this is a step that can take some time, but it is worth it.

Changing places at the dining room table is an insignificant change to some, but I have to tell myself to not return to my old seat every time I get there. I was in a habit of sitting in the same place, but didn’t know how limiting it actually was to just have the same old view of the kitchen. Now with my new view over the city and seeing the mountain ranges, which reminds me that my help comes from God (Psalm 121), I am feeling more alive than before and more motivated to do the things that the Lord is laying upon my heart to do.

Leaving old habits behind starts with a choice.

It is my hope that this blog has helped you in some way. We are all on a journey to grow in the Lord, one step at a time.

May the love of Jesus Christ reign in your hearts!

Catherina

Ps: Check out these related posts to dive a bit deeper.

Living Water