Blog: 7 Propelling Habits
On our way to maturity in Christ, there are many fruitful, regenerative practices of the Christian walk. Among them, here are seven habits which undergird our faith and walk.
1. We learn to deal with disappointment. Maturing adults become resilient, able to grow and flex with frustration and obstruction. Responsible for our own thoughts and choices, we grieve the losses and move forward by letting the Lord transform the disappointment into wisdom. Rather than wasting our sorrows, we deepen our character (Rom. 5:3-5).
2. We learn to take responsibility for our thought life by taking our thoughts captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Our power of thought is so great; we have the capacity to dwell on what is true, honorable, pure, lovely and excellent (Phil. 4:8) as we continually choose to renew our mind in Christ (Eph. 4:23; Rom. 12:2). We set our minds on Him, on the good, so that our thoughts are reset and rehabituated.
3. We practice giving thanks in everything for this is his will for us (1 Thess. 5:18). He is and has more than enough for all we need, and a thankful heart rests in that truth, “overflowing with gratitude” (Col. 2:7). Gratitude releases lightness and joyful expectancy.
4. We learn to develop right attitudes which become patterened character qualities as we make choice after choice in the Lord. Our maturity depends on forming habits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-mastery (Gal. 5:22-23) that bring us into freedom.
5. We learn to stay surrendered. This undergirds all we do as we present ourselves a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2), indwelt by the Spirit and centered in Christ. This establishes us in continual trust as we rest with confidence that He will make good on every promise.
6. We keep forgiveness current, both forgiving others and receiving forgiveness from God. Keeping a clear conscience, we recognize our daily need to be forgiven by the One who cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:9). And because we have been forgiven everything by Him, we stay in an attitude of forgiveness toward others (Eph. 4:32).
7. We keep practicing the Presence, a discipline of calling to mind that Christ is with us now, within us, whether we have a sense of that or not. By faith we recognize His indwelling Presence, that He is the very center of our being, and we practice His Presence, acknowledging Him throughout the day. We cultivate the habit of abiding so that we know the real, living God who is within (Jn. 15:4-9).
Perhaps you’d consider taking time to sit with these seven, asking Him to show you if there is anything amiss in your soul in any area. Then invite Him to empower you to transform your practices in that area. Change can begin small – perhaps a growing awareness to give Him thanks in everything, or to taking responsibility for an attitude. At each impulse of awareness from the Spirit, we can invite and be assured of His empowering grace.
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