A habit could be something as ‘serious’ as waking up at a certain time to pray everyday, or something as casual as starting every sentence with ‘Omooo…’. Irrespective of their scope, one thing habits have in common is they are so deeply ingrained in our behaviour that they define our identity.
According to research, up to 43% of our everyday actions are fuelled by habits. They are like automated suggestions that add up to influence our default activities, routines, and overall well-being.
Our habits are so significant. So when they don’t serve us well, we end up expressing identities that are counter-culture to the Christian life Jesus called us to. The solution to this is simple – we must build new, positive habits, and break free from the old, unproductive ones. Thing is though, when it comes to forming new habits and dropping old ones, it is not always that simple.
But this article draws from proven strategies to provide tips that can help you build new habits and let go of those that no longer serve you. Before we begin, let’s go over the importance of habits.
Why Do You Need to Build Healthy Habits?
As Christians, godly habits are crucial to our spiritual health because they align our actions in such a way that we can lead Jesus-centred lives. These positive habits are also beneficial to our daily lives. They can strengthen our relationships, improve our health, push us towards career goals and help us become better people in general.
Conversely, unproductive habits may hold us back and have frustrating consequences on our mental and physical health. To become the best versions of ourselves, it’s important that we identify and replace these negative habits with constructive ones.
Biblical wisdom emphasises the importance of cultivating good habits in Proverbs 22:6 (NIV). It says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” This verse highlights the long-lasting impact of the habits we develop early in life.
With this understanding, let’s discuss five valuable tips that can help you build new habits and break unhelpful ones.
Related: Take some time to watch this powerful sermon on Building Habits from Pastor Tolulope Moody.
1. Start Small
Building new habits or breaking old ones can feel overwhelming if we try to change too much at once. The key is to start small. Focus on one habit at a time and break it down into manageable steps.
James Clear expresses this tip as the ‘Two-Minute Rule’ in his bestselling Atomic Habits book. The ‘Two-Minute Rule’ states – ‘When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do’.
The 120 seconds in this rule is not actually a hard-and-fast clause. What it really implies is that whatever habit you are trying to build, first scale it down into a condensed, realistic version.
For instance, if you want to develop a habit of reading the Bible daily, start with a few verses a day rather than committing to an hour-long study session immediately.
If you’re looking to build a habit of taking prayer walks every weekend, start by putting on your walking shoes and walking down your street.
With every two-minute version that you complete, you build a strong foundation and expand your capacity for bigger changes. The 2-Minute rule is a helpful tip for avoiding initial gra-gra and conserving some excitement and motivation for the middle marathon.
Enjoyed this article so far? Check out a similar blog post: What Is Prayer – How To Develop A Daily Prayer Habit.
2. Be Consistent
Consistency is crucial when building or breaking habits. It’s better to perform the desired action consistently, even if it’s in small increments, rather than sporadically doing a lot at once. Consistent practice helps reinforce the new behaviour and makes it a regular part of your routine.
One effective strategy is to tie the new habit to an existing one. For example, if you want to start worshipping more regularly, you could link it to an existing routine such as preparing breakfast.
By consistently singing praises as you flip those pancakes or akara, as the case may be, your mind may start to link both actions. After some time, you’ll likely have built enough discipline to make each one stand alone.
During the process of building new rhythms, remember to focus on process over immediate results. Check out this compelling message to discover how you can make the first step towards a stable foundation built on proper rhythms.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
When trying to imbibe or abandon certain habits, it’s essential to draw a line between being disciplined and being too hard on yourself.
One way to achieve this is to celebrate every step in the right direction more zealously than you beat yourself up when you slip up. By focusing on and celebrating the positive mindset, you’ll cultivate a mindset that encourages growth and improvement.
Handing yourself tangible or emotional rewards for making progress can also be a powerful motivator. For example, if you’re trying to build a habit of exercising regularly, reward yourself with something enjoyable after each workout, such as a healthy treat or some relaxation time. The reward doesn’t have to be extravagant; it just needs to be meaningful to you.
4. Seek Accountability
Having someone to support and hold you accountable when building or breaking habits can significantly increase your chances of success. Sharing your goals with friends, family, or Sycamore Life Group members can encourage and motivate you. Simply knowing that someone else is aware of your efforts and progress is a great way to stay committed.
The benefits of accountability partners go beyond just guiding, checking up, or praying with you. Stories of their own personal experiences and previous mistakes may be exactly what you need to get you through particularly challenging patches. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV), the Bible says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
5. Pray for Guidance and Strength
Building and breaking habits can be challenging, but seeking God’s guidance and strength can make the process more manageable. Prayer helps us stay connected to God’s will and draws on His power to sustain us through our efforts.
Ask God to give you the wisdom to identify the habits you need to change and the strength to follow through.
Incorporating prayer into your routine can also help reinforce new habits. For instance, praying for patience and perseverance when you face challenges can improve your commitment to change.
James 1:5 (NIV) encourages us to seek God’s wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.“
5. Take a Next Right Step
Remember to stay plugged in and connected to everything God is doing in the life of His Church.
You can stay connected by joining a church community, joining a life group, or volunteering in God’s house. By showing up one more day, you put yourself in a better position to adopt healthier rhythms and drop off unhealthy ones.
Remember, building new habits and breaking other ones will require patience, consistency, and faith. It’s important that you recognize that it’s a journey. Yes, you’ll need to work, stay disciplined, seek accountability and pray for guidance. But ultimately, you must remember that it is a journey.
The changes will not happen overnight. What’s important is that with each day, you take one little step towards making meaningful changes and becoming the person that God wants you to be.
By attending church services and gatherings, joining a life group, volunteering, and showing up one more day, you put yourself in a better position to adopt healthier rhythms and drop off unhealthy ones.
For further inspiration and guidance, consider listening to Here Again? from the Breaking Habits Sermon series. An additional resource you can check out is James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’. When it comes to the subject of habits, this book is one of the most valuable literature you’ll find.
If you know any other tips that have helped you build healthy, godly habits and break negative ones, kindly share them with us in the comments! You never know who you might be helping on their transformation journey.
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Written by Victor Anih
Victor volunteers with the Content Team at Sycamore Church.
(Blogposts are creative expressions generously provided for Sycamore Church. The ideas and thoughts do not necessarily represent the position of Sycamore Church)