Life-Changing Atomic Habits (Ephesians 4:17-24)

Introduction

Habits… Why do we need to develop healthy habits as Christians? This is the question that we will be answering today. To develop habits to change our lives and return to the image of God.

Do you know how long it takes for your habits to form? According to the National Institutes of Health, their study reveals that it takes daily repetitions for ten weeks for you to create a habit.

As we gather here in fellowship, I am reminded of our habits' profound impact on our spiritual and practical lives. Allow me to share a personal anecdote with you.

For years, I struggled with the habit of procrastination. Whether it was putting off essential tasks or delaying decisions, this habit kept me from reaching my fullest potential.

It wasn't until I consciously tried to confront and change this habit that I began to see positive changes in my life.

Therefore, we should not be beaten or give up if we cannot maintain a habit after a week or two. We must be consistent for at least two months to engrave it into our brains.

You see, habits are the silent architects of our days. They are the routines and behaviors we engage in regularly, often without realizing it. And yet, they have the power to shape our lives in profound ways, for better or for worse.

Today, our sermon draws inspiration from the insightful work of James Clear in his best-selling book, "Atomic Habits." Clear delves into the concept of atomic habits, those small and seemingly insignificant actions that lead to remarkable and life-changing results when repeated over time.

He outlines four simple rules for habit formation: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.

Now, you may be wondering why good habits are essential for Christians and how we can cultivate them effectively. This is indeed the crux of our discussion today.

As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives of purpose and intentionality. Our habits are crucial in shaping how we live out our faith daily.

Whether spending time praying and meditating, practicing acts of kindness and compassion, or stewarding our resources wisely, our habits reflect our values and priorities.

Moreover, building good habits empowers us to live more fully in alignment with God's will. By cultivating habits that nurture our spiritual growth and well-being, we can experience the abundant life that Christ promises us. So, as we embark on this journey of exploring the significance of habits in our lives, let us open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of God's grace. May we be inspired to cultivate habits that honor Him and bring glory to His name? Amen.

Point 1: Building good habits helps us grow in our relationship with God and fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Let us explore how these habits can profoundly impact our relationship with God and our journey to fulfill His purpose.

First, building good habits helps us grow in our relationship with God and enables us to fulfill the purpose He ordained for us. As stated in Ephesians 2:10

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared us to do."

Here, we are reminded that God has intricately designed us with a purpose. We are not merely products of chance, but we are masterpieces crafted by the loving hands of our Creator.

We are reminded that our salvation is a gift from God, received through faith and not by our merit or works.

However, it is crucial to note that while work does not save us, we are indeed saved for work. We are called to live out our faith in tangible ways, demonstrating the love of Christ to the world around us.

God's plan for us is unique and tailor-made to fit our giftings and talents. He has equipped us with everything we need to fulfill His purposes and to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Therefore, as we reflect on this truth, let us consider what good works God has prepared us to do.

I challenge each of you to take a moment to ponder how you can use your God-given abilities and opportunities to glorify Him and bless those around you. To serve your church in the ministry God has placed you in is no greater glory. To love your brothers and sisters and to be sincere in a life of faith, practical faith.

Furthermore, I encourage you to identify one or two specific actions you can take this week to pursue God's purpose for your life actively. Whether big or small, every act of obedience and service is significant in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to living lives characterized by faithfulness, obedience, and a genuine desire to fulfill God's calling. May our habits align with His will, and may our lives be a testament to His love and grace. Amen.

Point 2: Building good habits helps us become more like Christ and transform our lives from the inside out.

According to Ephesians 4:17-19, Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Let us continue to explore the profound impact of cultivating good habits in our lives, particularly in our spiritual growth and transformation in Christ.

As we unpack this passage, we understand that God calls us to a radical transformation that transcends outward behavior and delves deep into the recesses of our hearts and minds. He desires surface-level change and a complete renewal of our innermost being, aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions with His perfect will.

Through the power of His Spirit, God empowers us to break free from the chains of our old selves – the selfish desires, the worldly mindsets, the sinful inclinations – and to embrace the new life that He offers us in Christ. This is a continual growth and transformation journey as we allow the truth of God's Word to shape our thinking and mold us into His likeness.

So, I urge each of you to take a moment to reflect on the areas of your life that need transformation by renewing your minds. Are there thought patterns or attitudes that are contrary to the character of Christ? Do habits or behaviors hinder your spiritual growth and intimacy with God?

In response to this reflection, I challenge you to identify one or two specific habits you can start or stop doing this week to align more closely with the new self-created to be like God. It's committing to daily prayer and meditation on Scripture to renew your mind or intentionally practicing forgiveness and grace towards others to reflect the character of Christ.

Let us embrace this call to transformation with eager hearts and willing spirits, knowing that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. May our habits be a testament to our commitment to becoming more like Christ with each passing day. Amen.

Point 3: Building good habits helps us strengthen our faith and overcome challenges and temptations.

Let us delve further into the transformative power of cultivating good habits in our spiritual lives, drawing inspiration from the timeless wisdom in God's Word.

‌According to Ephesians 4:20-24, But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

As we unpack this passage, it becomes evident that godliness is not a passive state we stumble into by chance. Instead, it is a deliberate pursuit that requires discipline, dedication, and effort. We are called to devote ourselves to the disciplines of the faith, such as the public reading of Scripture, preaching, teaching, and setting an example in speech, conduct, love, truth, and purity.

Godliness is cultivated through intentional practices and habits that align with the teachings of Christ and the principles of His Kingdom. It requires us to be proactive in pursuing spiritual growth, consistently seeking to deepen our relationship with God, and conforming our lives to His will.

Therefore, I implore each of you to take a moment to reflect on the habits of faith that you need to develop or improve in your own lives. Are there areas where you have become complacent or stagnant in your walk with the Lord? Are there disciplines you need to prioritize to grow in godliness?

In response to this reflection, I challenge you to identify one or two specific practices you can incorporate into your daily or weekly routine to cultivate godliness. Perhaps it's committing to prayer or reading scripture right when you wake up to sleep, or it might always be praying before you drive or start working. These acts build our consciousness of God and allow us to draw nearer to Him.

Let us embrace this call to spiritual discipline with humility and resolve, knowing that our efforts to train ourselves in godliness are not in vain. May our habits of faith bear fruit in our lives, drawing us ever closer to the heart of God and transforming us into the image of Christ. Amen.

Conclusion

As we conclude our time together today, let us reflect on the main points of our sermon and revisit the central question: Why is building good habits important for Christians, and how can we do it effectively?

The most crucial lesson we've learned is that building good habits is vital for Christians because it sparks our spiritual growth, enables us to deepen our relationship with God, grows our character in Christ's likeness, and fortifies our faith.

But how do we go about this effectively?

The answer lies in embracing the principles outlined in James Clear's "Atomic Habits": make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying.

I challenge you to apply these rules to your daily habits and see yourself growing in your relationship with God.

First, Talking with God: Remember that the word known and mentioned numerous times in the Bible means ginosko, meaning an intimate relationship with God, which entails us drawing God more personally to Him. So, try talking to Him more in yourself. You do not have to sit and focus to pray. You can pray to God by taking a moment to breathe in your busy day and starting a conversation based on your thoughts or burdens.

Second, Immerse yourself in the Bible: When you read the Bible, imagine in yourself as if you had the author of the Book standing before you instructing you the word of God. Imagine if you were an Israelite receiving God’s word from Moses. How do you feel? What do you learn? When we immerse ourselves more personally in the Bible than you, the words of the Bible come alive like 3D.

Third, Imagine yourself: If you were to imagine the perfect image of yourself. Suppose you were to imagine the ideal faith. What would that look like? In his book “Atomic Habits,” Clear states that we should strive to be the better version of ourselves and apply our habits by striving towards that image. Our perfect role model is Christ. Although we cannot come close to Jesus, he is the perfect example of the fullness of life we can enjoy.

Finally, serve: There is an inevitable growth in our faith when we serve in our church through ministry. Ministry helps us focus more on God rather than ourselves. Ministry pleases God, which allows joy to fill in our hearts.

As we embark on this journey of building habits that will lead to life-changing results, let us be encouraged that even the most minor changes, when consistently practiced over time, can lead to a remarkable transformation. So, let us take the first step today, and I pray that we all know more of God daily. Amen.

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