Three Spiritual Habits for Unshakeable Faith

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and

the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Are you building your life on the rock or on the sand? In the Bible the rock foundation is a description of Christ. He is the Solid Rock upon which we build an unshakeable faith. As the old hymn says, “all other ground is sinking sand.” Christ gave His life for us that He may give His life to us so that He can live His life through us. The Christian life is Christ in you! Out of His indwelling presence our faith grows. We cooperate with that growth by developing spiritual habits in our lives through practice. The Bible describes this process of spiritual maturity in Hebrews 5:14 (NASB) like this, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

Jesus illustrates this in His Sermon on the Mount with a story about two groups of people. Both groups hear what Jesus is saying but only one puts His Words into practice. Jesus said that those who put His words into practice were the ones who build their lives on a solid foundation. We get to determine the measure of our faith as we put God’s Word into practice. Here are three spiritual habits to begin that will give you a rock-solid faith nothing can shake.

•    The habit of giving – Develop the habit of giving. Giving is the only antidote to greed I know. It’s the opposite of selfishness and reflects God’s character as well as trust in God’s provision. We are most like God when we give from the resources He has blessed us with. How are you doing with the habit of giving? Do you practice that habit regularly? That’s why God instituted the tithe. It was a reminder to us of where all our provision came. Giving comes from a grateful heart. The Bible says our giving honors God. In Proverbs 3:9-10 (TLB) the Bible says, “Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines.” 

2.     The habit of serving – Christ followers are eager to serve. Even Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Developing the habit of service is intentional. Look for areas in your church, community and at home where you may serve God by serving others. Connect with others so that you can serve together and accomplish even more. The Bible says, “You are Christ’s body – that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your ‘part’ mean anything.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 (MSG)

3.     The habit of spending time alone with God – Do you have a daily time alone with God? You can practice this habit by setting aside a specific time and place that works best for your schedule. The Bible says, “Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don’t be vague but truly grasp what you know to be the will of God.” Ephesians 5:16,17 (PH) I used to wonder where I would find the time to spend alone with God. Then as I practiced the habit of spending time alone with God, I discovered the mystery of Proverbs 10:27 (TLB), “Reverence for God adds hours to each day….” I don’t know how this works, but it does.

Practicing these habits in our lives will lead to unshakeable faith! It will enable us to endure the inevitable storms of life. We won’t just survive but we’ll thrive in our relationship with God and others.

To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit kerryshook.org/blog.

As you continue your quiet time, prayer is a powerful way to stay connected to God and the family of Christ. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board offers a simple space to lift others in prayer and let them know you are standing with them. You can also share your own request and receive prayer support whenever you need it.

Another way to grow in your faith is through giving. This season, we’re celebrating how God is moving in the next generation by placing a Bible in the hands of every student connected to Kerry Shook Ministries. To join us in this mission, click here: Be Part of Growing Faith That Endures.