Bad habits aren't permanent, unless we want them to be. The good thing about bad habits is that they can be erased and replaced with good and healthy ones. And by the grace of God, bad habits can turn into testimonies, too.

Are you struggling with bad habits? If you have, then be encouraged: All of us do. All our bad habits aren't automatically erased and replaced with good and godly ones on the day we repent of our sin and invite Jesus into our lives as our Lord and Savior. The good news is that because Jesus is our Savior, He will save us from our bad habits, too.

Goodbye bad habits

Some people would say that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit to replace an old one. While that might sound tedious and troublesome, it's honestly worth the effort. One encouragement for all of us, though, is not to look at the 21-day period as the end-all and be-all of bad habit-changing. Rather, we should make the decision to start day 1 and be hopeful from then on.

The Bible gives us a wonderful encouragement regarding such matter. Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Looking to Jesus

The Bible gives us the greatest motivation in the fight against bad habits. As Christians, it is our greatest pursuit to become Christ-like in our thoughts and actions. And if we are following Christ and desiring to be like Him, then we will do well to throw away our bad habits.

These bad habits are the "every weight, and sin which clings so closely" to us. Knowing this, we should decide to stop doing them, casting them all aside in humble hope that we will be able to replace them with Christ's – habits that are meant to please God and do His will, and love all men unto the Lord.

Day one counts

Friend, it is because of this reason that day 1 is the day that matters. No, we don't hope for a 21-day success, rather we are hoping to start day 1 and end on the day of Christ: Either we return to Him or He comes back here to get us. We don't count 21 days to change our habits. We look to Jesus and focus on Him, and do our best to follow Him all the days of our lives – by His grace.