I imagine that Peter the apostle was a creature of habit.  Yes, he was spontaneous, but he was also a diligent man.  In Matthew 26:69-75 we read that Peter formed the short-lived habit of distancing himself from the Lord.  The story is a fulfillment of Christ’s prediction, which He made earlier in verse 34.  His period of denial was comprised of three responses.  First, speaking of Christ, Peter said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”  He feigned ignorance.  Second, he became bold saying, “I don’t know the man” (v. 72).  Finally, he cursed and swore, repeating a second time, “I don’t know the man!” (v. 74).  Peter’s habit grew progressively worse.

Everyone forms habits, whether good or evil.  But our evil habits cause us to digress in the same steps Peter distanced himself from the Lord.  In the beginning, when the habit is first born, we might act like we have no clue what the other is talking about.  When they ask, “Aren’t you a Christian?,” we don’t explicitly deny, but we don’t accept Christ either.  Second, we choose sides.  Our habit leads us to openly deny Christ, saying, “I don’t know the man.”  Third, we are addicted to our habit and become enemies of Christ.  Our denial grows into anger.

It usually takes a hard look at Jesus in order for one to get back on track.  Breaking a habit is painful due to both addiction and guilt.  Consider Peter’s remorse in Matthew 26.  Matthew records in verse 75 that Peter “went out and wept bitterly.”  Philippians 4:8 contains a good habit-forming principle, “Finally brethren, whatever is true … honorable … right … pure … lovely … of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  Before becoming addicted to bad habits, fill your life with those things that are good.  And if you’re already addicted, take a hard look at Christ and His work.