Behavior Change. How Reckoning to Be Dead to Sin Can Help

It’s now been three weeks – 21 days since I’ve used sugar in my coffee.  I made this decision to stop using sugar on December 31st and captured my rational in this blog post – Sin, Self Control and Greater Satisfaction in God – My Battle with Sugar

It hasn’t been all that difficult to do. Discipline, reminding myself what the impact of using sugar is and of what my benefits are of not using it, and a deep resolve have all been keys for me. I’ll write briefly today about this last one.

Paul writes in Romans…

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:11

The Greek word that we get reckon from is logizomai. It  means to reckon, count, charge with, reason, decide, conclude, think, suppose. In making my decision to discontinue using sugar I determined that, for me, adding sugar was a sin. I made a decision deep in my will, to stop using it. My decision included lots of reason as I read plenty of material on the topic. When I internalized that it was a sin against the temple of the Holy Spirit to add sugar, this added to my resolve to discontinue the practice.

During these past two weeks I’ve meditated on the idea that I want to treat God’s temple in a more worshipful way. To me not adding sugar is caring for his temple, my body.

This next verse is one that I have reflected on quite a bit. What Paul writes here reminds me that, out of love and reverence for God, I want to treat his temple well.

“… let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1

I know that my body is the temple of God, the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – and it’s my deep desire to care for it as such. This perspective has become one of my primary motivators to eat well.

What I’ve shared today has been instrumental in continuing with my new habit these past two weeks.

I’m sharing these thoughts with you in hopes that you might be able read what has helped me break a habit and transfer it to your situation as you might be attempting to change an unhealthy habit.

 

Previous posts on this topic. The initial one is on the bottom, the most recent on the top.

A Week With No Sugar in My Coffee – Why Knowledge About Sugar Has Helped

Changing an Unhealthy Habit – Sugar Addiction and the Brain

Changing My Unhealthy and Sinful Behavior: It’s a Matter of My Mind, Will and Heart

Drinking My Coffee Without Sugar – What’s Loving Jesus Got to Do With It?

Sin, Self Control and Greater Satisfaction in God – My Battle With Sugar

Why Drinking My Coffee With Sugar is a Sin

 Questions

What questions do you have concerning making a behavior change? Comment below and I’ll do my best to provide a solid answer.