25 Habits most pastors wish every person in their congregation would strive for. These habits serve to help any person with spiritual growth.

1. PRAY EVERY DAY
Prayer is fuel for your soul. It
connects you to God in ways
that nourish and strengthen
you. The Christian life is
impossible without prayer.
“Pray continually”
-- 1 Thess. 5:17.
HABIT #1

2. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
It doesn’t need to be an essay.
Keep it simple. Once a week –
a list of everything you are
thankful for that week.
“Give thanks in all
circumstances …”
-- 1 Thess. 5:18
HABIT #2

3. GET EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP
PER NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT
Develop an end-of-the-day
ritual that prepares you for
sleep.
“Whoever dwells in the
shelter of the Most High will
rest in the shadow of the
Almighty.”
-- Psalm 91:1
HABIT #3

4. ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING
TO LAUGH ABOUT
“He will yet fill your mouth
with laughter and your lips
with shouts of joy.”
-- Job 8:21
Be intentional. I try to spend
30 minutes every day watching
my favorite comedy sitcom. It
makes a difference.
HABIT #4

5. MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS
AND LOVED ONES
“This is my command: Love
each other”
-- John 15:17
“Family means no one gets left
behind or forgotten.”
-- David Ogden Stiers
HABIT #5

6. EXERCISE REGULARLY
“Do you not know that your
bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit”
-- 1 Corinthians 6:19
Schedule regular times of
exercise, and make it some
form of exercise that is fun for
you so that you are more likely
to do it.
HABIT #6

7. READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY
HABIT #7
Consistent Bible Reading will
strengthen the power of God
in your life. You can’t follow
what you don’t know. And you
can’t know what it says until
you read it.
“All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting …”
-- 2 Corinthians 3:16

8. WORSHIP GOD WITH
YOUR CHURCH FAMILY
EVERY SUNDAY
HABIT #8
One of the greatest gifts my
parents gave me was the
discipline of going to church
every week.
“Be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another with
psalms, hymns, and songs
from the Spirit.”
-- Ephesians 5:19

9. SERVE GOD IN
YOUR CHURCH
HABIT #9
“Worship the Lord your God
and serve him only.”
-- Luke 4:8
There is no greater way to
invest your life than to serve
the Bride of Christ, His Church.
Even with her flaws, Jesus has
no other bride.

10. SERVE GOD OUTSIDE
YOUR CHURCH
HABIT #10
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if
you were serving the Lord, not
people,.”
-- Ephesians 6:7
”He is no fool who gives what
he cannot keep to gain what
he cannot lose.”
-- Jim Elliot

11. SUPPORT THE WORK
OF YOUR CHURCH,
FINANCIALLY
HABIT #11
Giving regularly to God
through your church is the
most basic spiritual discipline.
Your money trail reveals your
true allegiances. And it feels so
good to do it!
“God loves a cheerful giver.”
-- Matthew 28:19

12. READ A DAILY
DEVOTIONAL BOOK
HABIT #12
“For wisdom is more precious
than rubies, and nothing you
desire can compare with her..”
-- Proverbs 8:11
“The more that you read, the
more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the
more places you'll go.”
-- Dr. Seuss

13. SHARE YOUR FAITH
REGULARLY
HABIT #13
“But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my
witnesses …”
-- Acts 1:8
“Preach Jesus, and if necessary
use words.”
-- St. Francis of Assisi

14. BE READY TO FORGIVE
THOSE WHO HURT YOU
HABIT #14
“Darkness cannot drive out
darkness; only light can do
that. Hate cannot drive out
hate; only love can do that.”
-- Martin Luther King
“Forgive as the Lord forgave
you.”
-- Colossians 3:13

15. BE OPEN TO CHANGE
HABIT #15
“Progress is impossible
without change, and those
who cannot change their
minds cannot change.”
-- George Bernard Shaw
“There is a time for
everything, and a season for
every activity under the
heavens …”
-- Ecclesiastes 3:1

16. FOLLOW THE LEADING
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
God speaks to you most often
through the still small voice
within. It takes practice to
slow down and listen.
“The Holy Spirit … will teach
you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said
to you.”
-- John 14:26
HABIT #16

17. BE HAPPY WITH LESS
“The secret of happiness, you
see, is not found in seeking
more, but in developing the
capacity to enjoy less.”
-- Socrates
“A good name is more
desirable than great riches; to
be esteemed is better than
silver or gold..”
-- Proverbs 22:1
HABIT #17

18. PRACTICE A DAILY
MEDITATION TIME
There are few things that
delight God more than when
you spend time with him.
“I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your
mighty deeds.”
-- Psalm 77:12
HABIT #18

19. PRACTICE REGULAR
CONFESSION
Confession is good for the soul
because it sweeps clean the
conscience and clears the fog
of guilt and shame.
“I confess my iniquity; I am
troubled by my sin.”
-- Psalm 38:18
HABIT #19

20. FIND REASONS TO
CELEBRATE
“Celebrate what you want to
see more of.”
-- Tom Peters
“But we had to celebrate and
be glad, because this brother
of yours was ... lost and is
found.”
-- Luke 15:32
HABIT #20

21. CONNECT WITH A SMALL
GROUP OF CHRISTIANS
The Christian life was never
meant to be lived alone. The
people who walk alongside
you are gifts from God.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one
person sharpens another.”
-- Proverbs 27:17
HABIT #21

22. TAKE A STUDY COURSE
THAT BETTER EQUIPS
YOU TO FOLLOW JESUS
God has given you everything
you need to serve Him. Much
of it is still found in the lives of
those around you.
“Now may the God of peace …
equip you with everything
good for doing his will”
-- Hebrews 13:20-21
HABIT #22

23. SET SPIRITUAL GOALS
FOR THE YEAR
Write down your goals. Break
them into achievable weekly
action items. And soon they
will be reached.
“I press on toward the goal to
win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.”
-- Philippians 3:14
HABIT #23

24. DISCIPLE OTHERS
The first step in the Christian
life is to become a disciple of
Jesus. The ultimate step is to
disciple another person.
“Therefore, go and make
disciples of all nations.”
-- Matthew 28:19
HABIT #24

25. SET CLEAR PRIORITIES
FOR YOUR LIFE
“The key is not to prioritize
what's on your schedule, but
to schedule your priorities.”
-- Stephen Covey
“But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to
you as well.”
-- Matthew 6:33
HABIT #25