Simple habits are activities and practices developed over time that enable or produce certain results. Anything that works consistently is sustained by habits. Any result and anything growing in height and depth is powered by a system called- habits. Spiritual growth does not happen by default and cannot occur without habits. Habits are developed over time, not overnight; in the same way, spiritual growth happens over time, not overnight. You don’t give birth to a baby today, and they become an adult tomorrow.
Therefore, Habits are the pathway to sustained spiritual growth and maturity. Anybody you see on fire and growing in their relationship with God has routines and habits that propel them to grow spiritually. The secret of successful people is in their daily routine. Also, your daily habits and routine are the secret of spiritual growth and maturity. Habits are systems of growth and advancement.
Those Simple Habits include:
- Early Rising: Most people who walked with God intimately, both in Bible times and in our time, had a habit of waking up early to fellowship with the Lord. Before they did anything for the day, they would spend quality time seeking the face of the Lord. Jesus is our model. Jesus would wake up early in the morning while it was still dark and go to a secluded place to pray (Mark 1:35).
2. Daily Quiet Time: some call it personal devotion or alone with the Lord. This is what you do when you wake up early in the morning. This is where you pray, worship, praise, study, and meditate on the Word. This is when you receive leadings, directions, instructions, and clarify leadings. This is where intimacy begins for the day, and you have vulnerable and honest conversations with the Holy Ghost. This is when and where you declare and command your day. When you consistently have your quiet time, you build a personal altar.
3. Spiritual Routines: To grow spiritually, you must intentionally set personal systems to drive growth. Spiritual routines are systems that will work whether you are tired or not, whether you are happy or not. Daniel had a routine or custom of praying three times a day. Even when they decreed that no one should pray, Daniel still prayed. Why? He had a system—he had a routine! Build spiritual routines; for example, you can commit to weekly personal vigils, prayer stretches, or a daily tradition of praying at a particular time. That’s a personal routine!
4. Weekly Fasting: To be strong spiritually, fasting is not an option. Fasting is denying your flesh, thereby strengthening your spirit. Fasting is part of sacrifice, and sacrifice is a language of the spirit. To rise spiritually, you must learn and speak the language of sacrifice. Fasting is to your spirit what feasting is to your flesh. Fasting keeps your flesh under and your spirit in charge. Fasting builds your spiritual stamina and strengthens your spiritual muscles.
5. Fellowship with other believers: Iron sharpens iron. You can’t grow in isolation. God’s system works in families and communities. I have always been taught that men are made in meetings. In the place of fellowship with other believers, interaction, equipping, encouragement, and inspiration occur. Through fellowship, there is the transference of graces and impartation of gifts. There is no impartation without contact or connection. Saul became another man and prophesied when he came in contact with the band of prophets (1 Sam 10:5-6).
6. Reading: Any believer who will grow in wisdom, knowledge, revelation, insight, and understanding will do that by reading, studying, and meditation. The Bible says that Daniel gained understanding through books (Dan 9:2). There are answers you are praying about that are in the books you are yet to read. There is wisdom that will deliver you from a costly mistake tomorrow, and that is in that book you have refused to open and read. The scripture states to buy the truth and sell it not (Prov 23:23). You must be willing to invest in books and read them.
7. Retreat: Retreat is withdrawing from your regular activities to spend unlimited time with God. Retreat is a favorite of mine because it is a time to be refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated, a time to receive clarity, strength, and direction. Retreat is like going on a vacation with God; it’s like taking a good shower or having a good full-course meal. Every believer should schedule personal retreats at least every three months or as needed. Retreat can be one day, three days, or one week. Retreat refuels and refires your spirit. Nobody drives a car without stopping to refuel the vehicle. Life is constantly making demands on you, and you are continually withdrawing from your spiritual reservoirs. If you don’t take time to refuel your reservoir, you become a cranky, carnal believer because you are running on empty.
8. Journalling: By God’s grace, I wish to write a whole blog on journalling because it is massive. In fact, journaling is high on the scale of preference in the habits you need to develop to grow spiritually. Journaling is a vehicle for spiritual growth and encounters: I would say that journaling was one of the critical habits that helped me grow in my bible study and hearing God. I have also heard people say they experienced their most significant encounters while journaling. Journaling can open spiritual portals for divine encounters with God. Make sure to keep a prayer journal, bible study journal, and prophetic journal.
Which habits are you currently practicing, and which ones do you need to strengthen?
I would love to hear from you!
Your friend,
Love N.
For any suggestions, questions, or concerns, please feel free to email me at love@theschooloftheword.com
If you are struggling with mind-wandering in prayer, I wrote a blog just for you! Click here to read it.
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