Change Your Habits, Change Your Life

Summary

Pastor Craig Groeschel’s message argues that hope can motivate change, but lasting change comes through habits. He frames habit-building as part of spiritual transformation: connect the change to why you want to honor God, the person you believe God is shaping you to become, and the specific actions that can help you grow.

Daniel’s practice of praying three times a day—“just as he had done before”—is presented as an example of how a small, consistent habit can strengthen faith over time. The sermon encourages listeners not to dismiss small beginnings: one manageable habit can contribute to significant change.

Practical Strategies for Building Habits

• Choose one small habit linked to who you want to become. Examples include reading the Bible before checking social media, praying with your children, expressing appreciation to someone, or exercising briefly.
• Make the habit obvious. Use cues to prompt action: place vitamins by your toothbrush, keep your Bible somewhere visible, or set a phone reminder.
• Make it easy. Start with a version that takes two minutes or less. Write one sentence in a journal, do five push-ups, or pray by thanking God for one thing.
• Stack habits. Attach a new action to an existing routine: “After I do this, I’ll do that.” For example, pray after a meal or journal after putting the kids to bed.
• Build consistency before expanding. A small, repeatable action can make it easier to do more over time.
• Use routines to support your priorities. Groeschel shares examples from his own life, including regular Bible reading and prayer, date nights, attending church, tithing, flossing, and journaling.

The sermon also distinguishes spiritual transformation from simply modifying behavior and encourages people to seek God’s help in becoming more like Jesus.

Presenter and Sources

• Presenter: Craig Groeschel
• Sources mentioned:
  • The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel
  • Getting Things Done by David Allen
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • Daniel 6
  • Hebrews 10:25
  • Zechariah 4:10
  • 1 Timothy 4:8, on the lasting benefits of training for godliness