“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds” — Ephesians 4:22-23 NIV

There is an old saying that goes something like this, Thoughts become actions, actions become habits, habits become character, character becomes destiny. It’s also been said, We become what we think about. I share these things because they must be considered if you wish to change the direction of your life or lose a bad habit. Any change to your outside begins with a change to your inside. When you begin to think of yourself as being a certain way, you’ll begin to behave in that certain way.

There is a verse in the Bible that says we should live “by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) and it means we should live in newness of God’s will not giving in to what we think we are doomed to repeat. You may have been raised in a home where rudeness was normal, but when you default to being rude now, you stop yourself and by faith you choose kindness instead. You can put off your old ways and embrace a new self through a mind of faith.

This week, make an effort to identify your old self and be made new by right thinking.