Letting go of defects of character is not easy. The coping skills, no matter how unhealthy they are now, served the purpose of survival while being formed and the safety of familiarity is often tempting to stay in. But the teachings of Jesus reminds us on more than one occasion, in more than one verse, how to live and why the new way of life.

Ephesians 4:22-24 reads: “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; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

It’s easy to slip into the old habits and ways of thinking. I can certainly justify a snide remark or allow my greed of time to prevent me from helping others. Even forgetting to smile at the clerk during checkout on the busiest weekend of the summer will let the old ways creep back in and the habit of a new life is jarred.

Ephesians continues to outline specifically how to turn our habits around; speaking only truthfully because we are all one under the body of Christ; work usefully so you have something to share with those in need; speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Snapshots of wisdom not only fill the Bible in every paragraph but the miracles abound when we learn how to apply this wisdom.

“Show me our ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalms 25:4-5