Spiritual Formation
The Habits That Shape Us
Small Choices. Lasting Formation.
I believe there is a tendency to underestimate the power of small things.
Dramatic moments and significant decisions are much more noticeable. We celebrate major accomplishments and life-changing events. Yet much of life is shaped not by a single moment, but by thousands of small choices repeated over time.
The same is true in our spiritual lives.
When people think about spiritual growth, they often imagine dramatic experiences, major breakthroughs, or significant turning points. While God certainly works through those moments, spiritual formation usually happens much more quietly.
When many people think about the shepherd boy David, they immediately think about his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17). It was a dramatic moment and an extraordinary display of faith.
Yet what shaped David’s life was not a single battle.
Throughout the Psalms, we repeatedly encounter a man who continually turns his heart toward God. Whether celebrating victory, facing failure, expressing doubt, or crying out in distress, David developed the habit of bringing his life before the Lord.
Goliath was a moment.
David’s pursuit of God was a pattern.
And over time, that pattern shaped the man he became.
Who We Become Often Unfolds through Habits
A habit is simply a repeated practice. Some habits are intentional. Others develop almost without our awareness. Yet both kinds of habits shape us. This is one reason habits matter.
We become what we repeatedly do.
The Quiet Influence of Repetition
Consider something as ordinary as physical exercise.
Few people become healthy by exercising intensely for one day. Health is usually built through small choices repeated consistently over time. Most of us understand this principle physically, yet we often overlook it spiritually.
The same principle applies to our relationship with God.
One prayer may not seem significant. One act of kindness may appear small. One day of reading Scripture may not feel transformative. Yet repeated over weeks, months, and years, these habits shape our hearts in profound ways.
Spiritual formation is often less about dramatic moments and more about faithful rhythms.
A Biblical Example
Daniel provides a powerful example of this principle.
When Daniel was carried into exile in Babylon, nearly everything around him changed. His culture changed. His environment changed. His circumstances changed. Yet one habit remained.
Daniel continued seeking God in prayer.
When a royal decree later prohibited prayer, Scripture tells us:
“[Daniel] got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” (Daniel 6:10, ESV)
Notice those final words: “As he had done previously.”
Daniel’s response to crisis was shaped long before the crisis arrived. His habit of prayer had become part of who he was.
This prayer habit did not create faithfulness in a single moment. It prepared him for faithfulness over time.
The Habits We Don’t Notice
Not all habits are intentional. Not all habits encourage faithfulness. Many are formed quietly through repetition.
The first thing I do each morning when I get out of bed is make my bed. That discipline was instilled by my mother when I was a young boy. At first, it required reminders and a conscious effort. Today, it is a constructive habit I rarely think about.
This is only one example.
Many habits operate almost on autopilot. Some are constructive. Others are not.
The way we respond to stress. The voices we consistently listen to. The things that occupy our attention. The stories we repeatedly tell ourselves.
Over time, these patterns become familiar pathways. And familiar pathways eventually shape character.
I’ve noticed this in my own life.
Raised in an environment that was often less than encouraging, self-doubt and insecurity became familiar companions. Internal messages repeatedly surfaced:
“You can’t do this.” “You won’t amount to anything.” “Why try? You know you’ll fail.”
Over time, I realized those messages were shaping the way I saw myself.
So, I adopted a habit to counter the negative narrative.
I disciplined myself to allow Scripture to speak into those places. I read God’s Word daily. I memorized verses. I wrote them on note cards and placed them where I would see them regularly.
The habit did not change me overnight. But over time, God’s truth began speaking more loudly than the lies I had believed for years.
The habits of our heart will do one of two things: move us toward God or encourage us to drift from Him.
Rarely do we remain spiritually neutral.
Left unattended, habits often drift wherever life takes them.
Spiritual formation invites us to develop habits that repeatedly turn our attention back toward God.
It is often easier to recognize major spiritual failures than small daily drift.
Yet drift rarely happens all at once. It happens one neglected habit at a time.
One missed opportunity to pray. One distracted day. One postponed moment with God.
Nothing dramatic has happened. Yet something is happening. Formation is happening.
Habits as Invitations
This is why spiritual habits are not merely religious exercises. They are invitations.
Prayer invites us into relationship with God. Scripture invites us into truth. Worship invites us into wonder. Gratitude invites us into contentment. Silence invites us into attentiveness.
These habits do not earn God’s love. They create space for us to experience His presence and respond to His work in our lives.
A Gentle Place to Begin
Many people become discouraged when they think about spiritual habits because they immediately focus on what they are not doing. Perhaps a better place to begin is much smaller.
- What is one habit that could help you become more attentive to God’s presence?
- Not ten habits.
- Just one.
A simple prayer before beginning your day. A few minutes in Scripture. A moment of gratitude before a meal.
Small habits often become significant influences over time.
Reflect
- What habits currently receive the greatest share of my time and attention?
- What kind of person are those habits shaping me to become?
- Are my daily habits helping me become more attentive to Christ?
Simple Practice
Choose one small habit this week that intentionally turns your attention toward God.
- Keep it simple.
- Keep it realistic.
- Then practice it consistently for seven days.
Walking Forward Together
The habits we practice shape the people we become.
This is why spiritual formation requires more than good intentions. It requires attention, consistency, and small acts of faithfulness repeated over time.
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In our next reflection, we will explore another powerful influence in spiritual formation: the stories we believe and the narratives that quietly shape how we see ourselves, others, and God.
For now, remember this:
Do not underestimate the significance of small habits. What we repeatedly practice today often shapes who we become tomorrow.
May you have a blessed week.
If this reflection resonates with you, I invite you to share it with someone who may need encouragement. And if you’re continuing this journey, I’m grateful to walk with you.
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