- Christian Living, Life, Habits, Prayer

Brushing teeth, drinking a cup of coffee, scrolling through social media—habits like these streamline the rhythm of our daily lives. But not all habits are equal, or even beneficial. Here are the seven habits that undergird a healthy spiritual life, encouraging us to dedicate ourselves to practices like prayer, generosity, and forgiveness. Make pursuing godliness a habit—you won’t regret it!

You may be wondering...what exactly is, “a godly life?” Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries defines a godly life like this, “No longer seeking satisfaction through a sinful lifestyle, but now surrendered to God and His will for our life.”

This doesn’t mean a godly life is perfect. It doesn’t mean that all believers are living without sin. What a godly life means is that, the life you are living and everything you do is surrendered to God.

You can’t live a Godly life, unless you have a good prayer life.

Our lives are full of so many habits, some of them we may not even know we have made into habits. Prayer may be the most important habit a Christian can have. Listening and talking to God is what keeps us connected to Him. We find ourselves in sin and in habitual sinful situations, we need God to get us out of those times. Prayer is a key habit to keep us connected to a godly lifestyle.

Watch this message from Dr. Charles Stanley on what he has found to be the habits of living a godly life.

The 7 habits of a godly life: (as listed in the video)

1.) Prayer

2.) Trust

3.) Meditation on the Word of God

4.) Obey God

5.) Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

6.) Giving to God and to others

7.) Forgiving other people

Jesus Christ shows us exactly what we need to do in order to live out a godly life. In the gospels there are numerous examples of the disciples questioning what Jesus was doing in the moment. It is in those moments where we see the importance of the actions of Christ.

In the following passage from Luke, we find Jesus praying. Then he answers his disciples by declaring the duty of living a godly life by following the commands of his father.

“At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, ‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ ” - Luke 4:42-43

Christ is a perfect example of a godly life, so that we may know the importance of submitting to God and following His son. We often find Jesus praying when the disciples enter the scene. Jesus is constantly and even habitually praying to God the father. Just one aspect of living a godly life. Will you make a habit of pursuing godliness? If so, prayer is a great place to start.