Three Essential Habits for Thriving in Christ

The phrase “Habits for thriving” is one of those catch phrases that we all could plug in some answers. But, if we are talking about worthy disciplines for Christians, this topic takes us to a much deeper level. But what if you’re in your fifties or older? Are you still interested in the essential habits you need to thrive in Christ, or have you stopped caring?

Habits Always Matter

The reason habits are essential in midlife, or any phase of life, is that anything we do repeatedly is a habit. The question then becomes, are they good or bad habits? But either way, they are habits.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Will Durant

As we slide into our fifties, it’s pretty easy to let things go a bit. Maybe you’ve lost the accountability that comes from having your kids living with you. Your main drive for good habits was triggered by the example you wanted to be for children. Disciplines that used to feel important fall to the side as we change our routines. If you have more time on your hands than you used to, it’s easy to fill it up with trivial things and lose focus on what really matters.

Habits That Will Make You Thrive

Start with the discipline that matters the most, growing your faith, and the rest will come together more easily. If you know you need to get back into the rhythm of old habits, be encouraged that every day is a clean slate with Jesus. He is right beside you, wanting the best for you. We are still running the race.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."  Hebrews 12:1

So here you go, the essential habits for thriving in Christ at any age.

1. Gratitude

Expressing gratitude will bless you in a compounding way. Let me explain! You wake up in the morning and before you get out of bed you thank God for the day and all the opportunities it brings. Immediately your heart is set on things of God, rather than the world. Then, as you go about your day, praising God for things you enjoy, like sunshine and good coffee, your heart continues to lighten and you will find more joy in your days.

The Holy Spirit will take these moments and plant ideas in your mind of how you can help and bless others. The spirit will give you perspective on the hard situations you encounter. You will feel less stress and others will want to be in your presence. Gratitude is a habit that can be a gamechanger as your life circumstances change over time. It will fight the sarcasm, depression and hopelessness we tend to feel as life starts moving along a lot faster in this season. If it helps to write down your expressions of gratitude, grab a journal and start jotting them down throughout your day.

2. Bible Time

Time in God’s Word is always a worthy discipline. Habitually reading, studying and memorizing passages from the Bible isn’t just life-changing, it’s life-giving. I’ll be honest, my phone can really get in the way of my Bible time. I sit down with great intentions to read and study scripture, but my phone is sitting there, just looking at me!!! It beeps once or twice, and I pick it up. Thirty minutes later I am picking up my Bible again and completely deflated and frustrated with myself.:( Can you relate?

To combat this problem, I typically turn my phone on silent or leave it in another room. Check out my post on taking a Screen Sabbatical for more help with finding focus. Once distractions are removed, the habit of Bible time will become soooo much easier, and your faith will grow. Our time is precious. Let this habit replace habits that aren’t serving you well.

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.

Warren buffet

3. Living in Community

A truly essential habit for thriving in Christ is spending time with other believers. We sure aren’t practicing this habit well. The reign of Covid made it worse. I am fully admitting that I sometimes struggle to embrace this habit the way I know I should. My excuse is that I moved to another state, what’s yours?

Let me explain my definition of living in community.

Living in Community as Christians means spending time with others and building authentic relationships that help us grow our faith, hold us accountable and rely on each other when we need help emotionally, physically and spiritually.  

These relationships might begin through making friends on Sunday morning, but they only grow when you spend time together in small groups studies, going out to eat, or just hanging out on a Saturday night. These friendships turn into those people you call when prayers are answered, or when you have received terrible news. They are your people! We all need these people in our lives. They hopefully include our family, but they should definitely include our faith family.

Proof these habits help you thrive

Faith habits aren’t like regular habits. When we eat healthy and regularly workout, we lose weight and become more fit. We have proof that our habits made a change. Habits that align with our faith seem a little more fuzzy. How do we measure the results?

Well, there’s actually a lot of research on the benefits of having a Christian faith. The benefits include better mental health, ability to cope in times of crisis, longer life, as well as better overall health. The Human Journey research agrees! “Evidence from over 1,200 studies and 400 reviews has shown an association between faith and a number of positive health benefits, including protection from illness, coping with illness, and faster recovery from it.”

God is truly amazing in his goodness. Of course, our biggest motivation for these habits that help us thrive in Christ is even more powerful. They are expressions of our love for Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us on the cross. These habits increase our faith and bear witness to our commitment to Christ.

Don’t let your current circumstances, current events or fear of the future stop you from embracing these habits and thriving in Christ. As mothers, daughters and grandmothers, we are the example for the next generation. What we do with our time matters more than ever.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Phillipians 4:8

You are precious in His sight,