According to Merriam-Webster, a habit is a pattern of behavior acquired by frequent repetition. In other words, anything that we do repeatedly can eventually become a habit. Some habits are good and others can be quite destructive. Some habits can lead us away from God, while others can strengthen our walk with Him by helping us to live Godly lives.
A Godly life means living a life focused on heavenly things as opposed to temporal things. A Godly life is about seeking the kingdom of heaven above everything else (Matthew 6:33). According to Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries, a Godly life does not mean a perfect life, but rather one that is completely surrendered to God.
There are certain imperatives about living a Godly life that, as believers, ought to become a part of our everyday lives. Dr. Charles Stanley, in his insightful sermon titled ‘7 Habits of a Godly Life,’ highlights key principles that guide us in our pursuit of a life aligned with God’s will. As Dr. Stanley eloquently shares, cultivating habits such as prayer, studying God’s Word, obedience to God and forgiving others can change our character and draw us closer to God. In essence, these habits serve as a roadmap for not only avoiding the pitfalls of worry but also for strengthening our faith in the face of life’s challenges.
Here are 7 habits of a Godly life:
1. A life of prayer (Mark 1: 35-37)
Everyday you sense the need, desire and a habit to seek the Lord because you love him and appreciate him for all he has done. You can’t have a Godly life without a good prayer life, it keeps you connected to God. Whatever you accomplish, you have to accomplish on your knees.
2. Trust/faith – (Psalm 103:19)
God is in control and you can trust him for whatever happens in life. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
If you don’t trust God and pray, you will live in fear and anxiety. Whenever you’re outside of faith you’re inside of fear. If God rules over all, why should I fret? When you trust him you build intimacy with him.
3. Meditating on His word (Psalm 63: 6-8)
To meditate means to search your heart and focus on Him. When you begin to focus on God worry shifts away, concern drifts away and your mind releases everything that has contaminated it. Mediation keeps us fresh and alert to what God wants us to do. It allows us to hear his voice. Mediation is essential for living a Godly life. Spend alone time with God longing for him and thinking about him. The last thing you should do before bed is talk to God; don’t carry the world to sleep with you. When you wake up in the morning you meet with God before you meet with anyone, thank him for the day and surrender the day to him.
4. Obey God – (Deuteronomy 27:10)
When you follow God, you live a life with a standard better than the world. It is a choice to be obedient to God, and you have to identify your greatest threat to your obedience to God and remove it from your life. Be obedient to God and leave all the consequences to him. It’s a choice you have to make, either God’s way or the world’s way and from my experience God’s way is much better. It’s the most amazing journey you can embark on. It’s the best life.
5. Dependence of the holy spirit- submission completely to the holy spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
Ask God to fill you with his spirit each day. The holy spirit will empower you and give you daily direction and guidance. The holy spirit dwells in you once you have accepted Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:13), the holy spirit seals you as a child of God.
6: Giving to God and to others (Luke 6:38)
You cannot out give God or predict what you’re gonna need, so we give to God and trust him to do exactly what he’s going to do. You never have to question giving to God, its a sign of obedience plus he loves a cheerful giver; you will never lack any good thing when you give to God. Giving to others, especially those who are in need, is like giving to God (Proverbs 19:17) and when we do so it is pleasing to him (Hebrews 13:16)
7. Forgiving Others (Ephesians 4: 26-27; 30-32)
It’s not always easy to forgive people who have hurt you or betrayed you, especially when they’ve done the unthinkable, but you have to forgive them. Think about Judas, he did the ultimate betrayal, he betrayed the Son of God. If you Love God you must forgive, it sets you free and keeps you closer to God. The key to forgiveness is recognizing how much God has forgiven you of. If we are unable to forgive others then we have not truly accepted His forgiveness. (Matthew 6:14-15).
As was mentioned above, a Godly life is not about being perfect but about surrendering to His will. There are times when we won’t have it all together, try as we may. However, our God is mighty and his grace is sufficient in every situation. If we continue to put these habits into practice with a genuine desire to be close to God, he will strengthen us in our weaknesses. In your pursuit of living a Godly life, prayer is an excellent starting point.
I am a woman of God crowned with His favor. His goodness and mercy surrounds me. I am a daughter, proud big sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, most importantly I am a child of God. I’m an avid lover of nature and also a huge pet lover. I truly enjoy reveling in all God’s beautiful creation. I am an aspiring attorney and author, currently employed as a Child Care specialist, where I care for and teach children with special needs.
Reading is not only my hobby, it’s my medicine. I’m constantly learning and stretching my faith with the help of various Christian literature. Writing and uplifting others is another love of mine. God has turned my scars into beauty marks and I aim to help as many people as I can. God has given me so much, therefore, it’s important to me to bless others as I have been blessed.
