Godly Habits, Life Patterns That Honor The Lord

God has designed our lives to function more efficiently through the development of habits. He made us in such a way that it is possible for us to perform many of the tasks required in life through rote memory and little conscious thought. We are not born with these habits, they are not innate like some kind of animal instinct. But we are created with the ability to develop patterned responses to common situations. For instance, you were not born with the knowledge of how to tie your shoes, but, at this point in your life, you probably do it every day without even thinking about it.

From tying our shoes to driving to work, our brains are created to follow the personal patterns that we have developed through repeated behaviors. Such habits become “regular, frequent practices that seem almost second nature” (Gifford, Heart and Habits, 19). As Christians, we not only recognize the reality of habits, we also acknowledge that God has designed our brains to develop habits. “God has designed people so that they can learn something with automaticity and perform that function with very little thought” (Gifford, Heart and Habits, 26). This is a benefit to us because “habits help us to act without much thought once we have acquired them. In fact, it is not a stretch to say that without habits, there would be no daily functioning” (Gifford, Heart and Habits, 26). This is quite a thought, and it reminds us of the important role that habits play, and the importance of making sure that we cultivate godly habits in our lives. God created us to function in this way to 1) bring him glory; 2) help us serve others; and 3) so that we could be more productive in the world that He created.

The cultivation of holy habits plays a significant role in a life of faithfulness. Consider, for instance, Philippians 1:27:

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel… .” (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

We don’t find the word “habits” in this verse, but that is at least part of what Paul means with the phrase “your manner of life.” If your habits define the patterns of your life, then this verse certainly means that we should be seeking to cultivate habits that are consistent with what we believe about the Gospel.

There are three primary areas of our lives in which we develop habits:

• Personal Disciplines: daily routines; personal hygiene; work; chores; exercise; diet; etc.

• Relational Situations: how you deal with conflict; how you interact with others; etc.

• Spiritual Matters: how you relate to God; how you participate in the means of grace; etc.

In each of these areas, the manner in which we live will have a significant impact on our lives. If we develop habits that are characterized by selfish and prideful motives, we can expect to see the fruits of anxiety, anger, laziness, stress, conflict, and coldness toward God. In contrast, if we cultivate habits that consistently submit to God and pursue his grace, we can expect to see the opposite.