In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte marched his massive army into Russia, aiming for yet another victory to add to his growing empire. But what followed was one of the most disastrous military campaigns in history. Historians have long blamed the brutal Russian winter, but some suggest a much smaller, almost laughable detail played a key role in his defeat: BUTTONS!
Yes, buttons!
The French army’s uniforms used tin buttons, which, it turns out, become brittle and break down in extreme cold. As temperatures dropped, soldiers’ coats literally fell apart. Exposed to the icy wind, their coats fell apart, and their morale and health soon followed. It’s a stunning example of how something small and seemingly insignificant can have massive consequences.
And it’s not just true of military campaigns. It’s true of our lives.
Habits: The Hidden Framework of Your Life
We often think our lives are shaped by big decisions or dramatic moments, but it’s the small, daily habits that hold everything together… or allow everything to fall apart. Just like those buttons.
And the truth is, most of what we do each day isn’t the result of conscious choices, it’s habit. Research suggests that 40% of what we do daily is habit-based. These small patterns, many of which we don’t even think about, quietly shape the direction of our lives, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
So, if our lives are unraveling, it’s rarely sudden. It’s often because of small, unexamined behaviors, bad habits that go unnoticed until the damage is done.
That’s why before we talk about building better habits, we have to start with the hard part: breaking the ones that are quietly breaking us.
Breaking Bad Habits: Curiosity Over Condemnation
“Good habits are hard to acquire but easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to acquire but hard to live with.” Brian Tracy
Everyone wants to break bad habits. But it’s hard. Very hard! So, how do we do it?
Psychiatrist Judson Brewer suggests that the first step isn’t willpower, it’s curiosity. Instead of condemning ourselves, we should get curious and analyze our habits. Ask, “Why I do what I do?” According to Brewer, every habit follows a three-step pattern: Trigger –> Behavior –> Reward.
Examples:
- Trigger: Anxiety –> Behavior: Scroll phone –> Reward: Temporary escape
- Trigger: Fatigue –> Behavior: Coffee –> Reward: Energy boost
- Trigger: Boredom –> Behavior: TV –> Reward: Instant stimulation
The Bible recognizes this cycle too, especially when it comes to sinful behaviors:
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15, ESV).
In order to break bad habits, don’t just avoid them. Examine and understand them. Why do I do what I do? That’s exactly what scripture calls us to do:
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet. (Proverbs 4:26, NIV)
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! (Lamentations 3:40, ESV)
Building Godly Habits: Don’t Wing It
Good habits don’t happen by accident. The author of Proverbs reminds us that, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (21:5, NLT). Habits require intentionality, not just emotion. One helpful tool is the S.M.A.R.T. framework, originally developed by George Doran:
- Specific – Define your habit clearly
- Measurable – Track your progress
- Attainable – Start small and realistic
- Relevant – Align it with your season and calling
- Time-Bound – Set a timeframe
The point is simple: good habits don’t come naturally. They require strategy, planning, intentionality, focus, and hard work! Paul describes it this way in his letter to the Corinthians:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV)
Jesus: Our Ultimate Example
Jesus is the perfect example of godly habits, not because he had to break bad ones, but because he built good ones with the right motives.
Why did Jesus develop habits?
- NOT for God’s approval – God already said, “This is my beloved Son…”
- NOT for public praise – Jesus didn’t live for people’s opinions.
- NOT for self-esteem – His identity was rooted in the Father and who He was.
Jesus built habits to fulfill His purpose and draw strength to do God’s will.
Here are a few of Jesus’ habits worth emulating:
- Prayer – “But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray” (Luke 5:16, ESV)
- Solitude – “Very early… Jesus went off to a solitary place” (Mark 1:35, NIV)
- Fellowship – “He appointed twelve that they might be with him…” (Mark 3:14, NIV)
- Worship – “He went into the synagogue, as was his custom” (Luke 4:16, NIV)
- Scripture – “But he answered, ‘It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, ESV)
Apply the SMART method to these. Want to pray more? Start with 5 minutes a day. Want deeper fellowship? Joint a weekly community group. Want to read more? Start with a page. Small beginnings matter.
Encouragement: You Don’t Climb a Mountain in One Leap
Whether you’re breaking bad habits or building new ones, it’s not easy. But you don’t do it alone. In Zechariah 4, God encouraged a discouraged leader named Zerubbabel who faced what seemed an impossible task of rebuilding the temple:
“It’s not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies… Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:6-10, NLT)
God is not asking you to leap to the summit, just to take the next step. One prayer. One action. One verse. One walk…
Just like a button can hold and army together, or let it fall apart, your daily habits can determine the direction of your life.
Start small. Be faithful. Glorify God!
Photo by Adolph Northen – Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=298121