holy sweat habitsHabits. Without them, life as you know it would be impossible.

You’d need to relearn how to dress, eat, drive a car, make coffee–everything!

Poor habits harm us. Consider the habit of drinking a 12-pack of beer daily. Or the habit of turning to ice cream when you feel sad or angry, then depressed because your clothes are too tight.

Why bother developing godly habits? Godly habits let you live life well. A habit of ample rest and eating healthy foods energize you. The habit of continual prayer brings peace. The habit of putting God first is true happiness and in the muck of life too!

Holy Sweat of Godly Habits

The apostle Paul encouraged his young friend Timothy to discipline himself “for the purpose of godliness.” 1 Tim 4:7 The Greek word Paul uses here for discipline is where we get our word for gymnasium. Paul’s message to Timothy was that genuine growth toward godliness requires hard work and “holy sweat.”

In today’s feeling-good culture, we too quickly relegate our relationship with God as just another choice on the shelf. The truth: Christianity is not about religion, rules, or rituals. It is about a relationship.

Right relationship requires right habits. Where do bad habits come from? How can you replace a bad habit with a godly habit? 

Bad Habits Come from Wrong Beliefs and Wrong Thinking

Wrong beliefs and wrong thinking produce wrong habits.

Paul’s instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:4-6 to adapt the disciplines of the farmer, the soldier, and the athlete into the spiritual realm. Listen.

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

In our walk with God, if we’re not faithful with the fundamentals, we cannot enjoy life as he intends. He has given us everything we need for “life and godliness.”

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:3, ESV

You and I need to discipline ourselves in our thinking (Romans 12:2) and in our actions (John 13:17James 1:25). Then the Spirit works in us to grow in our faith (2 Peter 1:5-10).

The key to discipline is one choice at a time, daily.

5 Godly Habits to Practice

Here are habits to think through and DO throughout the day in God’s power. These habits accomplished in your own power amounts to secular behaviorism. Submit to Christ’s rule. He promises to guide you and be with you. Click on the Bible references to read them.

DIE TO SELF

Dying to self is denying personal control of one’s life. This is possible only through Holy Spirit power.

Luke 9:23I Corinthians 15:31Galatians 2:20

ASK FOR WISDOM

God promises to give wisdom to anyone who asks, so ask. 🙂

Proverbs 2: Proverbs 3; James 1:5-8

GOD FIRST

Your Creator deserves your worship. He also understands your struggles. He is compassionate, not condemning. Satan is the accuser. He condemns.

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9Matthew 22:37-38

LOVE OTHERS

Yep, put others ahead of your self. This is selflessness. Psst: Jesus instructs us to love our enemies too. 

Matthew 22:39-40John 13:35I John 2:9-11

YIELD TO GOD’S WORD & HOLY SPIRIT

As you submit to Christ’s rule in your life, you will want to obey him. Obey is not a dirty four-letter word. It’s a path to contentment and peace. The Holy Spirit will work in you to produce godly habits. You are not alone.

Psalm 119:24133John 8:31-3217:17Ephesians 5:17-18

Question: What godly habit God is calling you to develop?

Need Help with Habits?

Are you ready to rid yourself of an ungodly habit like worry, addiction, or angry words? Do you want help in developing the “5 Godly Habits to Practice,” listed above? Contact me. We’ll talk and see how Jesus through biblical counseling wants to transform your heart and give you abundant life now.

photo credit: Kanaka Menehune via photopin cc

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