Many of us want to live better lives. We want to be more disciplined, stop bad behaviours and do things that make us happy and closer to God but often we don’t know where to start. When I first picked up Joyce Meyer’s book "Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits" I was looking for something to help me become more focused and disciplined. Just like many people, I have things in my life that I wanted to change, I have some bad habits that were holding me back and some good ones I wanted to develop but struggled to maintain. I didn’t expect the book to speak so directly to my personal struggles but that is exactly what happened.
This book is divided into several chapters that talk about 14 specific habits. These include both positive habits we should build like patience, prayer and generosity also stating the negative ones we should break like worry, laziness and procrastination. The book teaches that good or bad habits control most of our daily actions, if we want to see a change in our lives, we must look at the habits we have built over time. However, change does not come from wishful thinking but it comes from repeating good behaviour until it becomes part of who we are. This book is a simple, practical and spiritual guide that shows us how to develop the habits that bring peace and progress and let go of those that steal our joy, I found it very easy to understand. Joyce speaks in a very friendly and honest tone. It feels like sitting down with someone who is not judging you but simply helping you become better.
Joyce Meyer is a well-known Christian author and speaker, she is the amazing author of this book "Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits". However, she divided the book into two major parts which is making good habits and breaking bad habits. She explains that habits are powerful and our daily lives are shaped by our habits either good and bad. For example, the habit of procrastination can stop someone from achieving their goals, while the habit of waking up early and planning your day can help you become more productive.
Joyce teaches that God wants us to live lives that are healthy, joyful and full of purpose but for that to happen, we must be intentional about creating good habits like prayer, discipline, forgiveness, self-control etc and breaking bad ones like anger, laziness, jealousy and overeating.
One of the things I love most about the book is how Joyce Meyer combines practical wisdom with biblical truths. She doesn’t just tell you what to do but she explains how to do it. She believes that we can change but it will not happen overnight. It takes time, consistency and the help of the Holy Spirit. For example, she writes about how she used to be very impatient especially when things does not go her way but over time, she trained herself to respond with calmness. She would confess God’s Word over her life, pray about it and make small efforts every day. That is the secret to breaking bad habits, we conquer those bad habits little by little, start small. If you want to start reading your Bible every morning, start with five minutes. If you want to stop gossiping, practice being silent when the opportunity arises. Habits are formed through repetition, the more you do something, the more it becomes natural.
The book talks about several key habits that can transform a person’s life, they include the habit of discipline, the habit of being decisive, the habit of generosity, the habit of excellence, the habit of happiness etc. In the second part of the book, she shifts to the process of breaking bad habits, those habits that are like ruts on a road, that is the more we go down a certain path, the deeper it becomes, but with God's help, we can dig a new path.
One bad habit she talks about is negativity. She admits that she used to complain about everything like traffic, people, weather etc but she noticed it was affecting her joy so she made it a goal to speak more positively and to stop finding fault in everything. She also addressed procrastination, overeating, bitterness and even people pleasing. Each chapter comes with a Bible verse, a prayer and simple steps to help overcome the issue. She always brings us back to the fact that with God all things are possible.
I found this book very relatable because here in my society where pressure is high and distractions are everywhere, it is easy to fall into bad habits without even realising it. We often complain about Nigeria’s problems, but we forget that change begins with us in our minds and in our daily routines. For instance, the habit of lateness which we call "African Time", talking too much about others or not managing money wisely are things that many of us struggle with. However, this book gives practical tips that can be applied even in our local context.
“Making Good Habits, Breaking Bad Habits” is a must-read for anyone who wants to grow, improve and become the best version of themselves. It’s not just a self help book but also a spiritual guide filled with honesty, encouragement and wisdom.
Thank you so much for staying with me, I hope you enjoyed your read. Happy new month once again 🤗