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“Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)
If you’ve walked with Jesus for any length of time, you know the frustration of stubborn sin. You love Christ, you mean it when you say you’re sorry, and yet the same old habit keeps circling back. Ephesians 4:24 is good news for people exactly like that. It tells us that in Christ we’re not just trying to improve the old self—we’ve been given a new self.
Paul’s language is really down-to-earth: it’s like changing clothes. You “put off” the old clothes of your former life and “put on” the new clothes that fit who you are now (Ephesians 4:22–24). You’re not earning a new identity; you’re learning to live like the person you already are in Jesus.
Here are some practical ways that flows into breaking sinful habits:
1. Name it and locate it
First, don’t stay vague. Name the habit: anger outbursts, porn, gossip, envy, overspending, people-pleasing, whatever it is. Scripture is brutally honest about sin; we can be too (Ephesians 4:25–32; Colossians 3:5–9).
Then “locate” that habit: it belongs to the old self that has been corrupted by “deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). Those desires promise life but deliver death. They say, “You need this to be okay,” but Christ has already made you new.
A simple prayer: “Lord, this habit is part of my old self. It is not who I am in Christ. Help me treat it as something to put off, not something to protect.”
2. Don’t just stop; replace
The Bible rarely says “stop” without also saying “start.”
- The liar doesn’t just quit lying; he starts telling the truth (Ephesians 4:25).
- The thief doesn’t just quit stealing; he works hard so he can give (Ephesians 4:28).
- The bitter person doesn’t just swallow their bitterness; they actively learn kindness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31–32).
That’s Ephesians 4:24 in action. Putting on the new self means asking, “What is the opposite Christlike habit I need to practice?”
So:
- If your habit is angry words, your “put on” habit might be slow, gentle, constructive words.
- If your habit is lust, your “put on” habit might be guarding your eyes and intentionally honoring people as image-bearers, not objects.
- If your habit is worry, your “put on” habit is specific, thankful prayer instead of rumination (Philippians 4:6–7).
Don’t just aim at subtraction; aim at replacement.
3. Renew your mind, not just your schedule
Romans 12:2 says you’re transformed “by the renewal of your mind,” not just by rearranging your routines. Your habits are fueled by what you believe and love deep down.
Ephesians 4:23 talks about being “renewed in the spirit of your minds.” That means:
Expose the lie underneath the habit (“I need this to cope,” “God won’t really help,” “This isn’t that serious”).
Confront it with truth from Scripture (“God is my refuge,” “Nothing is hidden from him,” “Sin leads to death; obedience leads to life”).
A simple practice: pick one or two verses that speak directly to your struggle (for example, Romans 6:12–14 for slavery to sin, or Galatians 5:16–17 for desires of the flesh). Write them out. Put them where you see them. Pray them. Let them talk back to the lies.
4. Starve the habit; make no provision
Romans 13:14 says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” In other words, don’t keep feeding the habit and then act surprised when it stays strong.
Ask, “What keeps this sin well-fed in my life?” It might be:
Certain apps, websites, or social media patterns
Being alone at certain times with nothing to do
Certain friendships or environments
Lack of sleep, constant stress, or unstructured time
Putting on the new self means taking those seriously. Delete, block, limit, rearrange—whatever you need to do so that your flesh isn’t being constantly catered to.
You’re not earning God’s favor by doing this; you’re simply aligning your lifestyle with the reality that you’re now alive to God and dead to sin (Romans 6:11–14).
5. Fight by the Spirit, not sheer willpower
Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 8:13 adds, “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” The Spirit is not a vague feeling; he is a real helper living in you.
Practically, that looks like:
Learning to respond quickly when temptation hits: “Holy Spirit, help me right now.”
Choosing one small act of obedience in that moment (change the channel, step out of the room, send the honest text, confess the urge).
Expecting that the Spirit really does meet you in those small, concrete choices.
You won’t be perfect, but over time you’ll notice new reflexes growing. That’s the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
6. Don’t go alone
Hebrews 3:13 warns that we can be “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” That’s why we need each other. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another.
One of the most practical steps you can take is to bring someone else in:
Share honestly about the habit.
Ask them to pray regularly for you.
Give them permission to ask you direct questions.
Celebrate even small steps of obedience together.
God has given you a new self in Christ. Ephesians 4:24 isn’t a burden; it’s an invitation. Today, in this area of struggle, you get to practice being who you already are—renewed, loved, and made to look like Jesus.