Forming new, and breaking old, habits

Modern research into the brain has revealed some interesting applications to recovery. The new buzzword is “neuroplasticity,” it describes the brain's ability, throughout life, to reorganize itself by forming new, or tear up old, neural pathways. A neural pathway is a kind of shortcut in the brain in either our thinking or our habits, and is created by repeated thought or activity. In learning to read, for example, we start off sounding out the letters. As we continue to do this over and over, suddenly we can read words and even whole sentences, without consciously doing so. A neural pathway has been formed. This works both positively and negatively, and is why addictions, in both thinking and doing, are so hard to break. The good news though, is that old habits can be broken (neural pathways can be torn up) and new habits formed (new neural pathways formed). Estimates vary about how long the new thinking/behaviour need to be repeated before this happens. In terms of addictions and addictive obsessive thinking, it is said to take between thirty and ninety days of repetition to form the new habit (neural pathway).

II was saying yesterday, that we need to replace negative thoughts and deeds with positive thoughts and deeds. We are likely however, to have believed lies about our ability to change. We may tell ourselves “This is who I am, it is part of my personality,” or “There is no way that I can change, I have tried over and over and I always fail.” We may tell ourselves “I am a looser.” This then becomes self fulfilling prophecy since believing was we do, we may quit before the miracle happens, or we may not give it our best effort. As Christians we need to embrace the truth that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). You see you and I are made in the image of God, and “God don’t make no junk!” In particular, with God’s help, we can change! I am not saying it is easy, He has however given us tools.

And one of these tools is each other. I am impressed with the fellowship that can be found in many twelve-step groups, both secular and Christ based. I do of course have a bias towards the latter. I have a vision of the Church becoming safer than it is, and embracing recovery ministries. In a Christ centred support group we have available all the principles and promised of the Scripture, and the power of Holy Spirit. But we still need each other so we can hold one another accountable, to spur one another on to love and good works, and to obtain healing as we confess our faults one to another in a safe place (Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 10:24,25; James 5:16).

Father, I am convinced that we have shortchanged the presentation of the gospel by not including the help that the Scriptures and our relationship with You bring in coming into the fullness of life that is the very reason You came (John 10:10b; Luke 4:18). So Father I pray that the coming revival that has even now started, will bring in the Kingdom as we in Your Church get our hearts healed and so exhibit the full power of Your salvation. In Jesus Name Amen