As the clock strikes midnight on January 1, many of us resolve to change. We aim to lose weight, exercise more, save money, or learn a new skill. These resolutions are often short-lived, not because we lack the desire for change but because we lack the systems to sustain it. How can we build the “system” to sustain real change?
James Clear, in his bestselling book Atomic Habits, highlights a key insight about how true transformation happens: not through grand gestures, but through small, consistent actions that compound over time. Clear’s journey to this realization began with a personal crisis—a serious injury that sidelined him as a high school athlete. Determined to rebuild his life, he discovered that small, incremental habits could bring significant change. Over time, these habits transformed not only his performance but his entire perspective on growth and resilience.
What Clear experienced in the physical realm is also true in the spiritual realm. The Bible offers a framework for such growth through what are often called spiritual disciplines—habits of grace that connect us with God, transform our hearts, and align our lives with his purposes. This new year, I want to encourage you to make one simple resolution: install one new spiritual habit in your life and stick with it all year long.
Why Spiritual Habits Matter
The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. And like any endurance race, it requires consistent training. Spiritual habits—or disciplines—are the training ground for a vibrant faith. These habits don’t earn us salvation or make God love us more; rather, they are means by which we open our lives to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. Habits such as regular prayer, Bible reading, fasting, worship, and service anchor us in God’s presence, shape our character, and equip us to live out our calling as followers of Christ.
Spiritual disciplines are not about legalism or perfectionism. They are about creating rhythms in our lives that cultivate spiritual fitness. Just as physical exercise strengthens the body, spiritual habits strengthen the soul.
A Habit Worth Keeping
If you’re unsure where to begin, let me offer a specific example: commit to engaging with God’s Word each morning. Here’s how this habit might look:
- Read – Select a passage of Scripture and read it slowly, meditatively, and prayerfully. Let God’s Word speak to you without rushing.
- Reflect – Ask how the passage applies to your life. What does it teach you about God? What does it reveal about yourself? What action does it call for?
- Pray – Take a truth from the passage and pray it back to God. For example, if you read Psalm 23, you might pray, “Lord, thank you for being my Shepherd. Help me trust your guidance today.”
- Obey – Look for an opportunity to obey the insight in this passage and share what you’ve learned with someone else. It could be as simple as a conversation with a friend or a text to a loved one.
Imagine how your life might change if you started each day in the presence of God, allowing his Word to guide your thoughts, shape your decisions, and fuel your conversations. Over time, this habit can become the cornerstone of a deeper relationship with Christ.
The Right Time to Start
The new year is the perfect time to pause and reflect. Carve out a few moments for introspection. What has God done in your life the past twelve months? Where do you sense the need for growth?
I can say from personal experience that committing to one new spiritual habit has the potential to change your entire year. This isn’t about piling on guilt or adding another item to your to-do list; it’s about anchoring yourself in God’s grace and opening your life to his transforming power.
A Year of Spiritual Transformation
As you consider your resolutions for the new year, think beyond the usual goals of health or career. Resolve to grow spiritually. Install one new habit that draws you closer to God, strengthens your faith, and equips you to live out your calling.
Small habits lead to big changes. James Clear’s insight into the power of habits applies just as much to our spiritual lives as it does to our personal goals. So, this year, don’t settle for fleeting resolutions. Commit to a habit of grace that will draw you closer to God and transform your life from the inside out.
Let’s make this year the start of something extraordinary—not through willpower, but through the faithful habit of connecting to the one whose transforming power makes all the difference.
