If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard the often quoted “fact” that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Believe it or not, that’s not true.

According to a study published by the European Journal of Social Psychology, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for someone to form a new habit. Taking it even further, it can take upwards of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. Another interesting fact the study also shared is that certain habits are easier to create than others. For example, most participants in the study found it easier to begin drinking a glass of water every morning at breakfast than they did doing 50 sit ups every morning.

On the flip side of this is what it takes to break a habit. According to the National Institute of Health, it can actually be rather hard to break a habit that provides pleasure. I’m sure we can all think of a habit that would fall into this category: one habit we know we should drop but just can’t quite seem to ever stop. You may be thinking: well why does that matter? If my habit is providing me with pleasure and not hurting anyone else, who cares?

You should care. I should care. Because habits, whether we realize it or not, shape who we are and who we are becoming. We are all evolving, and your habits feed who you become. Based on your habits, are you becoming a person of love and joy, someone who has meaningful relationships, or do your habits actively work against that? No one has stagnant habits; habits shape us all in some form or another.

Knowing that our habits make a tremendous impact on who we are becoming, it’s important to stop and periodically take inventory of our habits. What we let in matters, both the good and the bad. John Mark Comer, author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World, perhaps says it best: “Our time is our life, and our attention is the doorway to our hearts.”

The Bible doesn’t delve specifically into habits. Perhaps it would be easier if it did. But here’s what we do know from Scripture: God is a God of Sabbath. In Exodus 20, when He gives Moses the Ten Commandments, He states in verses 8-10, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”

God instituted the Sabbath for a reason. As we learn in these verses, it’s to give us rest and build a habit of rest. Though not spelled out in Scripture, other positive, constructive habits would be consistent personal quiet time and spending time in prayer. These are tools that have to be developed over time—perhaps between 18 to 254 days—but they are valuable habits that give life and bear much fruit.

When you inventory your habits, are you happy with what you find? If you feel there’s room for improvement, we’d love to help. Please join us during one of our Sunday services [LINK TO PLAN YOUR VISIT PAGE], or simply share your prayer request with us and we will walk with you on your journey. [LINK TO PRAYER REQEUST PAGE]