Physical Wellness Month

Holy and Healthy Habits

Pastor Trevor M. Crenshaw

The old brass bell above the bakery door chimed, a warm, resonant sound that always made Angela smile. It was her signal, not for pastries, though the scent of cinnamon and sugar was tempting, but for her daily walk. She had a pact with herself, a small, quiet revolution against the inertia that had settled into her life like dust.

Angela had always considered herself spiritual, but lately, her connection felt frayed, like a worn tapestry. Her prayers were rushed, her Bible lay unopened, and her good intentions evaporated like morning mist. She knew she needed structure, a rhythm that resonated with her physical and spiritual well-being.

Her first step was to walk through the park for thirty minutes, rain or shine. It wasn’t just exercise; it was a moving meditation. She started with deep breaths, focusing on the rhythm of her feet on the path, the rustle of leaves, and birds chirping. As she walked, she’d recite scripture, verses she’d memorized as a child, letting the words wash over her. Sometimes, she would simply pray, not a formal, structured prayer, but a quiet conversation with God, sharing her joys, worries, and gratitude.

The second habit was the “Morning Light.” She set her alarm thirty minutes earlier, brewed herbal tea, and settled into her favorite armchair. Instead of scrolling through her phone, she read a chapter from her Bible, journaling her thoughts and reflections. Some mornings, she felt an immediate sense of peace, a quiet understanding. Other mornings, the words felt distant, but she persisted, trusting that even the smallest effort was a seed planted.

The third habit was the “Gratitude Jar.” A simple glass jar on her kitchen counter, filled with slips of paper. Before bed, she wrote down one thing she was grateful for each evening. It could be anything, from a kind word from a stranger to the sun’s warmth on her face. At first, she struggled to find things to write, but as she paid more attention, she noticed the small blessings that filled her days.

It wasn’t always easy. There were days when the alarm felt like a cruel intrusion, the walk felt like a chore, and the words on the page seemed lifeless. But Angela reminded herself that habits, like gardens, needed tending. They needed consistent care, even when the sprouts were small and fragile.

One afternoon, a sudden downpour forced her to take shelter under a large oak tree during her walk. She felt a sense of profound peace as she watched the rain fall. It wasn’t the absence of hardship but the presence of something more profound, a quiet strength that had grown within her. She realized that her habits weren’t just about discipline but connection. They were about creating space for God in her life, nurturing her body and soul, and finding joy in simple moments. The brass bell chimed in her mind, a reminder of the small, consistent steps that led to a life filled with healthy and holy habits. And she knew, with quiet certainty, that she was on the right path.

Angela’s story is encouraging because human beings are creatures of habit. However, with time, people can develop “bad habits” that are harmful, impede their ability to grow as Christians, and offend others. In The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook, the authors say bad habits can be spiritual and physical. They listed negative spiritual habits such as envy, jealousy, malice, gossip, lying, criticism of others, selfishness, impatience, quarreling, or procrastination. On the other hand, they offered negative physical habits like overeating, drinking, smoking, overspending, reading and viewing pornography, excessive working, fanaticizing and evil thoughts, masturbation, or swearing.

One of the essential steps to overcoming negative spiritual or physical habits is the admission that a negative habit exists. By identifying it, you can then do the tedious work needed to overcome it. The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook rightly points out that it is challenging to overcome ungodly habits because “habits are hard to break.” As a result, wishful thinking and undisciplined approaches to overcoming them will never suffice. One must become dedicated to practicing a new way of living. In After You Believe, N. T. Wright calls this new way of living “new habits.” For Wright, believers cannot develop new habits without unlearning old ones. In Ephesians 4:22-31, Paul challenged the believers in Ephesus to unlearn old habits and adopt new habits that would identify their new life in Christ and resemble God’s character of righteousness, holiness, and truth. 

In so doing, you are exchanging negative behaviors with godly characteristics that translate into godly conduct. In God’s economy, believers exchange “falsehood” for “truth” Believers also exchange unchecked anger with conflict management skills that close the door to ungodly behavior that originates with the evil one. Those who live Christ-centered lives exchange stealing for labor that has mutual benefits for the laborer and recipients. Instead of maintaining verbiage that denigrates and tears down others, believers exchange “unwholesome words” for conversations that are replete with grace and edification. Implementing these holy habits helps believers to make the Holy Spirit feel welcomed and at home in their lives.

Every believer has the potential and power to change their habits by living a Christ-centered life. Paul encouraged the church in Philippi by identifying the potential for Christ-centered living when he said, “I can do all things” (Phil. 4:13, emphasis added). Then, he also pointed out the divine power that every believer has in Christ when he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13, emphasis added). Through Christ-centered living, God provides the willingness and ability to develop new habits. Paul said, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13, emphasis added). He gives believers the willingness and power to develop holy habits that contribute to spiritual and physical health. 

The goal is to develop healthy habits that are practiced daily. By practicing these holy and healthy habits, believers engrain a behavior that can be repeated consistently without much contemplation. I have played golf regularly for at least thirty years. I did not become a better golfer until I unlearned some bad habits and adopted new habits presented by my golf instructor. Practicing the new habits helped to ingrain a correct golf swing that translated into lower scores during a round of golf. Now, I don’t have to think about making the right swing because it has become a new habit.

New habits won’t make our lives easier; however, they can help us make better choices as we prioritize our spiritual and physical wellness. Through self-discipline and divine assistance from the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, we can make wise decisions about nurturing our body, soul, and mind to the point that we maintain continual joy and peace (Phil. 4:4-8). Consistency is key for a long life of choosing healthy and holy habits that glorify the Father (1 Cor. 10:31) and help us display a lifestyle that shows we are becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). Remember to keep creating holy and healthy habits!

Resources

Boa, K. (2001). Conformed to His Image: Biblical and Practical Approaches to Spiritual Formation. Zondervan. 

Graham, B. (2007). The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook. Grason.