5 Easy Habits that Will Change Your Life
Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the most difference. Just like one small seed produces a large tree, so too the simplest adjustments can have the greatest affect on our quality of life.
Today I want to share 5 easy habits that I believe will change your life. As I have personally practiced these I have noticed a positive difference in my own life. I pray the same for you as well.
1. Listen to Worship Music
Whether we realize it or not, the kind of music we listen to has a major effect on us. I know there have been times in my life when I’ve heard a song in a store while in public and I can’t get it out of my head for the rest of the day. That song keeps replaying over and over in my mind even while I’m trying to fall asleep.
Can you relate?
Being exposed to music with negative messages is inevitable in the world we live in. However, we can choose to intentionally fill our lives with God-honoring music that helps us connect with His presence throughout the day.
This concept came through to me recently while I was doing the mundane activity of putting away the dishes. A lovely worship song was playing over and over in my head, and it caused me to think upon the Lord and be in a state of peace.
I couldn’t help but think of how my mood would have been negatively affected if I had recently listened to a song with a different message.
Music is powerful! We need to evaluate which kingdom our music is coming from - God’s Kingdom or the kingdom of darkness. This isn’t legalism. This is being diligent to fill our souls with what is good, pure and lovely (see Phil. 4:8).
Listening and singing God-honoring music is how we stay filled with the Holy Spirit.
…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…. (Ephesians 5:18-19).
Yes, the Holy Spirit lives in those who are born again in Christ, but there are ways we can stay filled with Him. In other words, we give Him permission to flow out of us, to refresh us, to anoint us… to work in us.
That verse doesn’t just say singing, but also making melody in our heart. This is like meditating on a worship song and replaying it in our mind over and over again.
Let’s choose music that helps us soak in the Spirit!
2. Color Your World
Studies have shown how color affects our mood, mental alertness and even our physical health.
An easy and cost-effective way to improve your life is to add color. This could be wearing brighter clothes to boost your mood, painting your wall, decorating your space with some real or fake flowers… even something as simple as using colorful plates and napkins from the dollar store.
Filling your space with your favorite colors will surely boost your mood and minister to your soul.
Afterall, our God is a God of color, and He surrounds Himself with color!
3. An Attitude of Gratitude
I know we’ve all heard this before, but it’s so true! Making a habit of gratitude will truly change the way we live.
I’ve noticed that as I’ve practiced gratitude for small things, it naturally becomes my default setting.
Gratitude helps us change our perspective of negative situations by helping us always appreciate what we have. A mindset of gratitude helps us draw strength in challenging circumstances.
The Bible even tells us that thanksgiving is one of the keys to staying in God’s will!
4. Prioritize Rest
Jesus tells us that the sabbath was made for man (see Mark 2:27).
Intentionally choosing to take a day of rest helps anchor our weekly routine so that we are not constantly exhausted running here and there.
In my own life, I can look back on seasons when I didn’t rest and see how that negatively affected my emotions and health. Sometimes the bad attitudes we have are caused by other factors we might not expect – like a lack of rest.
I challenge you to think of something that brings you joy and refreshes your soul, and set some time aside this week to do it.
Rest is what restores us. God blesses and sanctifies us in rest.
5. Quiet Time with God
In addition to rest, I think it’s very important in today’s world that we consistently spend time alone with God.
Sabbath rest is beneficial, but there’s something about also making a habit to separate ourselves from the busyness of the world to be with God.
Jesus taught us to pray to the Father in secret and that He would reward us for doing so.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).
Practicing spending time alone with God with no distractions is how we get to know Him deeper. It’s how we position ourselves to receive His peace that passes understanding (see Phil. 4:6-7). It’s how we have an internal reset from the cares of this life that try to distract us from a heavenly perspective.
Which habit resonates most with you in this season?