In this post, I am sharing 10 habits you must give up to have a successful Christian lifestyle. The goal of being a Christian is to make heaven. It is important that every Christian puts this at the forefront of their journey in life to enable them to stay focused on their race. Having this at the back of one’s mind also makes you live consciously and intentionally, knowing you have a goal, which is to make an impact on the earth and also get to see Jesus at the end of your race.
Why do you have to give up these 10 habits to have a successful Christian lifestyle.?
The call to serve God is a sacrificial one. It is dying to one’s self and completely yielding to the will of God for our lives. It becomes more of, what he wants than what we want. our passion, desires, interests, etc are then governed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the word of God.
10 Habits You Must Give Up To Have A Successful Christian Lifestyle
1, Keeping worldly friends:
I know a lot of people defend this by saying Jesus dined with unbelievers. Yes, but he did not live like them.
Unworldly friends can even come in the form of family members, friends, colleagues, etc. people you cannot necessarily get away from. What do you do then? Separate your lifestyle from theirs. Choose to not be influenced by the way they live, instead, be the one influencing them.
Do not be yoked with unbelievers, but instead date other Christians who are equally yoked.
(2 Cor. 6:14)
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9
2. Clubbing & partying
without mincing words, I’d say, there is nothing that glorifies God in clubs or parties.
If you must celebrate, make it Christian-themed. This means the choice of music, games, jokes, etc. to be used as entertainment in those places should conform with your Christian standards.
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 13:13-14
3. Dating or courtship that does not edify you
This applies to both Christians and unbelievers.
Any relationship that is not edifying (lifts you up, makes you happy, brings out the best in you, etc.) is not of God.
God loves us and wants the best for us, why be in a relationship that will do anything but that? This is not just intimate relationships, but also friendships, family, etc. Also, any relationship that ridicules your relationship with God or that seeks to stop you from serving God is definitely not edifying.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
4. Jobs that contradict your faith
I’ve heard Christians ask sometimes, “What if my job demands that I do this, what do I do?”
God made us free moral agents, which means that you literally have a choice. If you want or desire something that will cause you to compromise your faith, then that desire is a distraction. You either seek other ‘godly’ ways to get what you desire or you ultimately forget about it.
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.Prayerlessness
1 John 3:4
The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
Proverbs 5:22
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
5. Worldly music
The music we listen to minister to our spirits and affect our lives too.
It is not news anymore that Hollywood is a dangerous place for one to thrive as a believer. Howbeit, we consume so much of their ungodly and defiling content. Some of the musicians today are either devilish or just sing songs that prompt all forms of unrighteousness; violence, immorality, fornication, adultery, sexual prevention, etc. Feeding your mind with such songs is unhealthy and will definitely make you unstable in your walk with God.
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Philipians 4:8
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:4
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
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6. Disregarding the things of God
Many times Christians believe you don’t involve God in everything, but that s wrong.
God lives in us and as such is present in every situation and stage of our lives. It is foolish to think it is best to only involve him in what we deem fit. This also comes to play in Christians who don’t have any regard for the things of God; worship, punctuality to church, respect and reverence for his servants, etc. A child of God who has the Holy Spirit in him/her should most definitely have reverence for the things of God. This includes demonstrating the character of the spirit through living a holy life.
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
7. Disrespect for the church, pastors, and preachers
We are called into a ministry of reconciliation, not of criticism and separation.
A lot of people have built a career out of criticizing churches, hating pastors, and ridiculing and condemning some Christian standards and beliefs. They claim they want to “free the sheeple”, however, the result is a high rate of Christians backsliding, leaving the church, and completely stopping believing in God.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Hebrews 13:7
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17
8. Materialism:
The basic things we need as humans are food, clothing, and shelter. Every other thing is a luxury.
There are three kinds of Christians in this category;
- The Christians who are sold out to the gospel, who are not concerned about material things
- The Christians who are running after material things and are willing to do anything, godly/ungodly to acquire them
- The Christians running after those who have acquired material possessions
while there is no problem with having more than enough to live luxuriously, it is wrong to make acquiring material possessions the main focus of our journey in life. This is because all these earthly possessions will be left behind at the end of our journey on earth. Therefore, we should attach to them temporary affiliation, knowing that they are not the main things. Our focus should be on doing God’s work, and encouraging others to do the same too.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
9. Ungodly character traits like envy, bitterness & rancor
love, forgiveness, mercy grace, etc. are the basis of Christianity.
When God offered us the free gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ, that is what he gave us. Love, grace, mercy, forgiveness… As a believer, these things should be in you and become your nature. God is love and he who is without love cannot serve him
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:31
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20
10. Sexual Immorality:
The Bible records that our bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost and that we should glorify God with our bodies.
The biggest way to achieve the latter is by abstaining from all forms of sexual immorality. From fornication to adultery, to all other ways of using the body immorally. Sexually pervasion impedes our walk with God and creates disorder in the house of God.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:17
It’s easy to say I’m a Christian than it is to be one. Jesus confirmed in the scriptures that “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7: 21-22 It is obvious that are certain traits expected from us as believers. There are certain habits you must give up to have a successful Christian lifestyle
It is important that we, as God’s children do not take his grace and mercy for granted, but for us to thrive to live righteously as he desires for us. And if you fall into sin, don’t swell there, get up, dust yourself up and keep moving.
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