Psalm 61:8 – So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
What do you do every morning? Do you get a cup of coffee? Take a shower? Brush your teeth? Grab a bite to eat? Hit the gym for a quick workout? We all have habits, but many form without conscious effort. We may chew our nails or drive too fast or eat ice cream when we are upset all out of habits formed years ago.
I am sure you can find habits you would like to change around your physical health. We all can. However, we should be more concerned about our spiritual health. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). We need habits of godliness to improve and strengthen our spirit.
What kind of habits strengthen the spirit? Paul said, “godliness is profitable,” but how can we be godly? Thankfully the Bible is filled with moral guidance, and the Holy Spirit is given to establish godliness within believers. Therefore, the best way to start pursuing godliness and improving our spiritual health is through earnest prayer and Bible study.
Since the best habits are regular and automatic, we should establish rules for ourselves to train our minds to a form godly habits performed at least daily. Any less frequently and we may not form the habit at all without external help. Daily study and reading give us contact with God’s Word, and daily prayer helps us confess and address the issues of life with our Heavenly Father before they build up. Any one who has tried to cram for a test or a crash diet knows the ineffectiveness of such tactics. So too with Bible Study and prayer. We need this regular fellowship with God through study and prayer.
If you are like me, you may need help forming the habits you need most. This is when external help is best. Like a trainer or dietitian, others with more experience can help us learn to flex our faith muscles and learn how to get the most out of our study time. Also, setting goals and finding others working in the same goals is great for keeping us accountable and making the process more enjoyable. Group Bible study and prayer groups are wonderful opportunities to hear other perspectives. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).
Wherever you are along the journey of faith it is not too late or too soon to start forming or reforming your spiritual habits. Feed your soul faith, hope, and love, and your fruit will multiply to the glory of God. Get started today.