Habit

Habit

Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

MY HUSBAND ROUTINELY WAKES at 4:20 a.m. in order to participate in a 5 a.m. CrossFit class in a neighboring town. While his routine works well for him, I struggled for years to find my own fitness routine. With small children underfoot, exercise seemed like a luxury my limited time couldn’t afford. Time and again, I’d motivate myself with goals, only to drift back into old habits. It was so discouraging.

Part of the struggle was that I’ve never been an athlete; I got smacked in the face with a kickball in elementary school and hated phys ed afterward, and I spent a few years playing mediocre volleyball in junior high before moving on to other pursuits. Since then, I’ve always been the person who wants to enjoy exercise but doesn’t. The problem was that I was trying to create a habit by focusing on what I wanted to achieve (an outcome-based habit), when what I really needed to do was focus on who I wished to become (an identity-based habit).

Things changed when I shifted my mindset. Instead of trying to work out every other day and losing count, I began to tell myself, “I work out every day.” I then proved it to myself in small ways by exercising daily, even for just a few minutes at a time. It’s now an authentic part of my identity.

Similarly, spiritual habits require the same shift. Many of us want a closer walk with Jesus but try doing so by setting and accomplishing goals rather than focusing on an identity-based habit. For instance, we resolve to get up early to read the Bible, then are discouraged after we hit the snooze button too many times. Let’s shift our approach. Rather than focusing on the end result, let’s focus more on our identity in Christ. When we tell ourselves, “I’m someone who loves to spend time with God” and prove it in small ways each day, our identity will shape our habits. There is freedom to be found in recognizing the truth of our identity in Christ, and the ripple effect is a stronger relationship with him.

Lord, help us find our identity in you. May it foster healthy spiritual habits. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Brainstorm one spiritual habit you’d like to cultivate. How can tying it to your identity make it achievable?