I’ve been reminded lately of the power of consistent habits and routines. To be honest, I’ve fallen into some old patterns I’ve been trying to change. It’s time for me to revisit the topic.
Habits
Habits affect our daily lives, our families, and our spiritual walk, whether we know it or not.
A habit is something we do without thinking about it. We all have habits. It’s just a matter of whether we’re intentional about cultivating the habits we want and weeding out those we don’t.
Habits include things like:
- Brushing your teeth
- The order you get dressed in the morning (including which shoe you put on first)
- When and where you have your daily quiet time with the Lord
- The route you take to work, school, or store
- Your initial response when stress hits
- How do you handle strong emotions
- How you end the day
- When you fall asleep and wake up
- What you do on Sunday mornings
- When you start Christmas shopping
- And more
Scripture urges us to cultivate certain habits and routines as well.
- Bible study
- Scripture memory
- Meditating on God’s Word
- Loving God with all we have and all we are
- Prayer
- Praising and thanking God
- Repenting of our sins
- Interceeding for others in prayer
- Bringing our requests to God
- Daily surrender
- Listening to the Lord
- Loving other people
- Telling others about Jesus
- Serving others
- Using our spiritual gifts
- Giving generously
- Worshipping with God’s people
- Remembering and celebrating things God has done
- And more
That is a lot and the list can be overwhelming. Where do we start?
Where to begin
If you’re like me, you want to flip a switch and get those new, better habits solid overnight. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.
Experts say it takes more than two months for a habit to become automatic. It’s also more effective to focus on one habit at a time.
The key is to commit to the process of learning and growing. It takes time.
Don’t start by tackling everything. Pick one. I recommend starting with incorporating daily Bible study into your habits and routines. After all, God speaks to us through His Word.
- Pick a time and place for your daily quiet time.
- Put your Bible there to make it easier.
- Find something to remind you to do it each day. It could be a sticky note on the bathroom mirror, putting your Bible in the way so you have to move it at the time you want to read it, an alarm on your phone, or something else.
- Find a way to keep yourself motivated. Use a habit tracker or give yourself a reward when you finish each day. Eventually, it will become a habit, but it won’t start that way. Find a way to keep yourself motivated. (Yes, it bears repeating.)
- Then start. Don’t get hung up on figuring out how to do it perfectly. Just start.
- Don’t give up! Try not to break the chain of success. If you do, just start again. Persistence pays off.
James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits (not sponsored), has been helpful to me as I look to be more intentional about my habits. I also find Scripture to be a great motivator and comfort in the process. Here are some of my favorite verses on the subject.
“But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary of doing good.” 2 Thess. 3:13 NASB
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb. 12:1-3 NIV
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Jas. 1:4 NIV
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15:4 NIV
Lord, we want to honor You in all we say and do. Forgive me for the times I’ve insisted that I know best and done things my own way. Forgive me for the times I’ve become complacent. Thank You for the Holy Spirit living in me because of my faith in Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Show me the things I need to change. Give me the patience and faithfulness I lack. Help me to persevere, not in my own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, so I may bear fruit to Your glory. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
What about you? What habit are you going to cultivate in the next two months? Let me know in the comments below.
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