Develop Holy Habits

By now, you’ve probably noticed that with each step of faith, you are drawing closer to God and farther away from your “old” way of life. Old desires, thoughts, and habits are beginning to disappear from sight as you move forward in your journey. This is all part of God’s daily plan for our spiritual growth. Your love for God and faith in Him have ignited a deep desire to obey His Word. Like a child loves, trusts, and wants to please his parents— who gave him life and love him in spite of his weaknesses—your love for God compels you to do pleasing things in His sight.

This daily process is called “sanctification,” which means “to be set apart.” The ongoing process of sanctification distances you from the sinful thoughts and behavior that are displeasing to God. My prayer for you lines up with the Apostle Paul’s desire for the believers in the Colossian church:

 “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,”

(Colossians 1:9–11, NLT)

 Bottom line, God wants you and I to develop holy habits. We all know what it is to have a bad habit. But what is a good or “holy” habit? A holy habit results from doing the right thing enough times that it becomes a habit. Holy habits like prayer, Bible reading, and church attendance bring blessing and strength into your life. If you continue to live an unrestrained, sinful lifestyle, this would lead you away from God and back into the “old” ways, leading to death. But as you grow in your relationship with the Lord, the Holy Spirit that now lives in you helps you overcome sinful behavior and habits. Second Corinthians tells us,

 “With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.”

(2 Corinthians 7:1, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language)

In addition, Hebrews says, 

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”

(Hebrews 12:14, NLT)

Don’t let the word “holy” scare you. It doesn’t mean you will no longer enjoy life, have fun, laugh, or go places and do interesting things. As we said earlier in this chapter, the word holy means “separated” or set apart. Now that you are a Christian, you belong to God. He wants you to dedicate your whole life to Him, “set apart” for His purposes. This is where true life begins! Paul describes this beautifully in Romans:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

(Romans 12:1–3, NLT)

DEVELOPING HOLY HABITS

As a new Christian with a new nature, it is essential that you begin developing the kinds of habits that will aid you in your spiritual growth. This will protect you from discouragements, temptations, or trials that would otherwise cause you to drift away from God. Here are a few practical ways to keep “walking your talk,” cooperating with God’s holy purpose and plan for your life.

First, you should develop the habit of attending church regularly. Regular church attendance will strengthen your faith by hearing God’s Word so that you will grow spiritually and be encouraged through fellowship with other Christians. As your pastors, we are here to nurture you in your new faith. The Bible warns us not to neglect church attendance because we need the strength and encouragement it brings.

 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

(Hebrews 10:25, NLT)

If you are ever tempted to give up coming together with your brothers and sisters in Christ—don’t give in! Believe God, keep putting the coal of faithful obedience into the “engine” by feeding on God’s Word, and your feelings will follow.

Second, learn to develop the habit of daily prayer. Prayer is vital to your spiritual growth. Now that God is your Heavenly Father, He wants to hear from you and have a daily relationship with you. Tell Him your concerns. Pray over your needs. Talk to Him about your struggles and thank Him for His blessings. Not only does He promise to answer your prayers, but He will also provide guidance and spiritual strength as you pray. The Bible commands us to “pray continually”—1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Finally, develop the habit of daily Bible reading.Nothing is more important in your new Christian life than reading God’s Word. You wouldn’t consider going a day without eating. You should view Bible reading the same way. God’s Word is spiritual food and nourishment for your soul. Reading the Word daily will cause you to grow spiritually (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15). As you study His Word (you might want to start with the Gospel according to John), He will strengthen your faith, speak to your heart, and give you guidance and direction for every need and decision in your life. Psalm 119 puts it beautifully:

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

(Psalm 119:105, NLT)

By developing these three holy habits, you’ll go far in your faith journey and discover the joy of being “set apart” for God.

Let’s close with some questions to help you stoke the fire of faith in your heart. We’re almost there! Just one last step is ahead of us that will excite you for the wonderful plans God has in store for you.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

•   How have you experienced His love and kindness? In what ways do you relate to the woman in Luke 7:36–47?

•   Read Philippians 2:5–13 and 2 Peter 1:3–8. How do these passages help you to better understand being “set apart” to God and His purpose? How do they relate to embracing His ongoing process of maturing your faith?

•   Read John 15:1–5 about ‘abiding in the vine’ and review the related “coal car” section in chapter 2.  Do you note Jesus’ promise of spiritual fruit as you develop the three “holy habits”?

•   Based on John 15, which old attitudes and behaviors are being “pruned” (cutaway) from you since you accepted the Lord?