You overcome evil with good. You embrace the principle of replacement. You replace complaining with words of gratitude.

In my Bible study lessons, I often start a lesson with this question: “State your name and one thing you are grateful for this week.” I think there is something to be said with starting every Bible study by talking about all the things in our world that we have to be grateful for.

It is easy to talk about what is wrong with the world; any dummy can do that. And, it is destructive. Overcome evil with good. Overcome the evil of complaining by talking about what is right with the world.

  • Is there a God in heaven who adores you (the answer is yes). Think God for that.
  • Are all your sins forgiven? (If not, they can be. Just ask.) Thank God for forgiveness.
  • Did you know that God is able to work all things together for good? (Romans 8:28) No matter what happens, God can work it for good to those who love Him.
  • Did you know God is preparing a place for you? A place of infinite beauty and unspeakable joy, a place of satisfying work and healthy relationships. He has gone to prepare a place for us. It is a place where there will be no more mourning, and no more tears, and no more sadness, and no more cancer, and no more conflict, and it is forever.
  • When was the last time you thanked God for your Bible? What would we do without the Instruction Manual that shows us how to live and prepares us to die?
  • Have you thanked God recently for the Holy Spirit who indwells and guides empowers and comforts intercedes for us?

The list could go on and on. If you would lay hold of the abundant, John 10:10 life that Jesus promised you would do well to make a list every day. The Bible has a lot to say about gratitude. It is actually supported by modern science. Modern scientists are just now learning what the Bible has long taught—gratitude is good for you. We can now say with full scientific rigor that those who practice the activity of gratitude are happier, healthier, and will live longer than those who don’t.

We overcome the nasty habit of complaining through the principle of replacement. By replacing gratitude for complaining we change all our habits this way. We overcome evil with good. We can just stop doing this without starting to do that.

Hunt, Josh. 2013. Break a Habit / Make a Habit. Josh Hunt.