There’s a big gap between simply professing faith and living it, especially during tough times.
The key lies in habits. Adopting certain Christian habits can help reinforce your faith, even when the going gets tough.
Practicing these habits isn’t about putting on a show or pretending to be holier-than-thou. It’s about anchoring yourself in God’s word and letting that guide your actions.
In this article, I’ll share 8 Christian habits that have helped me keep my faith strong during the most challenging times. I hope they’ll do the same for you.
1) Daily prayer
It’s no secret that prayer is a central part of Christian life.
During difficult times, this habit becomes even more crucial. It’s a way of communicating with God, seeking His guidance and finding comfort in His presence.
Think of it this way: just as you would reach out to a close friend during tough times, it’s even more important to reach out to God. He’s the ultimate source of wisdom and strength.
Praying daily, regardless of how you’re feeling, helps keep your faith strong. It’s not about reciting verses word-for-word – it’s about pouring out your heart to God.
Remember, prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. So make sure you also take time to listen for God’s response. It may not be an audible voice, but He often speaks through His Word, through circumstances, or through a quiet nudge in your heart.
But remember, this isn’t about ticking off a religious checklist. It’s about fostering a deeper relationship with God and letting Him guide you through the stormy seas of life.
2) Scripture memorization
This is a habit that has personally helped me a lot during challenging times.
There’s something about memorizing God’s word that strengthens the faith. It’s like having an arsenal of truth and hope that you carry with you wherever you go.
A couple of years ago, I was going through a particularly tough season. It felt like everything that could go wrong, did. During this time, I held onto Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Memorizing this verse and repeating it to myself in moments of despair reminded me of God’s promise to be my refuge and strength. It helped me not to focus on my circumstances, but on the One who has control over everything.
But remember, memorizing scripture isn’t about impressing others with your biblical knowledge. It’s about hiding God’s word in your heart so that you can draw on it when you need it most. It’s a personal tool for your faith journey, not a badge of honor to show others.
3) Fellowship
In the early Christian church as described in the book of Acts, believers didn’t just meet on Sundays. They met daily in each other’s homes, breaking bread and sharing life together.
This habit of fellowship is a powerful one for strengthening faith during tough times. When you’re going through a challenging season, it can be tempting to isolate yourself. But that’s when you need the support of your spiritual family the most.
Fellowship isn’t just about catching up over coffee after Sunday service. It’s about sharing life together, bearing each other’s burdens, and encouraging one another in the faith.
In this digital age, fellowship can take many forms. It could be a weekly Bible study group, a prayer meeting over Zoom, or even just a regular catch-up with a Christian friend over the phone.
No matter the format, the key is to stay connected with fellow believers who can walk alongside you in your journey of faith.
4) Serving others
Jesus himself said that he came not to be served, but to serve. Following in his footsteps, serving others is a powerful habit that can strengthen your faith during tough times.
When we serve others, we take the focus off our own problems and put it on helping someone else. It’s a way of showing God’s love in practical ways. Plus, it can give you a new perspective on your own situation.
Serving doesn’t necessarily mean volunteering for a big project or mission trip (although those are great too). It can be as simple as helping a neighbor with their groceries, sending an encouraging note to a friend, or offering to babysit for a single parent in your church.
The key is to look for opportunities to serve in your everyday life and take them. As you do, you’ll find your faith growing stronger, even in the midst of trials.
5) Gratitude
Even in the hardest of times, there is always something to be grateful for. This habit of gratitude is one that can truly transform your outlook and strengthen your faith.
When you intentionally look for and acknowledge the blessings in your life, you’re reminded of God’s faithfulness and goodness. It’s a way of shifting your focus from your circumstances to God’s love and provision.
Keeping a gratitude journal can be a practical way to cultivate this habit. Each day, write down three things you’re grateful for. They don’t have to be big things – a beautiful sunset, a kind word from a friend, the taste of your favorite food.
Over time, you’ll begin to notice how this habit changes your heart. You’ll find yourself more aware of God’s blessings, and more resilient in the face of hardships. Your faith will grow as you recognize that even in tough times, God is still good.
6) Worship
There’s a song by Matt Redman called “Blessed Be Your Name”. One line of the lyrics says, “Blessed be Your name, on the road marked with suffering… You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name.”
That song has carried me through some very dark days. There were times when I didn’t feel like singing or even speaking. But choosing to worship, to declare God’s goodness even in the midst of pain, was a powerful act of faith.
Worship is more than just singing songs on Sunday. It’s a lifestyle of acknowledging God’s worth in every situation, even when it doesn’t make sense.
It’s not always easy. There are times when the words stick in your throat, when your heart feels heavy. But worship isn’t about how we feel. It’s about who God is.
And as we lift our voices in worship, we often find our faith strengthened, our perspective shifted, and our hearts comforted.
7) Meditating on God’s word
In Psalm 119, the psalmist talks about meditating on God’s laws day and night. This habit of meditating on God’s word is a powerful one for strengthening faith.
Meditation isn’t about emptying your mind. It’s about filling it with God’s truth. It involves reading a passage of scripture, thinking deeply about it, and asking God to show you how it applies to your life.
This practice helps us to internalize God’s word and allow it to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. In tough times, it can provide comfort, guidance, and reassurance of God’s promises.
You could start with a short passage or even just a single verse. Read it slowly, think about each word and phrase, and ask God to speak to you through it. As you make this a regular habit, you’ll find your faith becoming stronger and more resilient.
8) Trusting in God’s sovereignty
At the heart of all these habits lies a fundamental truth: God is sovereign. He’s in control, even when life feels chaotic. Trusting in His sovereignty is essential for maintaining a strong faith during tough times.
It means believing that He has a plan, even when you can’t see it. It means trusting that He’s working all things together for your good, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
This trust isn’t blind faith. It’s rooted in the character of God as revealed in the Bible – a God who is faithful, loving, and just.
It’s not easy to trust when you’re in the middle of a storm. But as you practice these habits – prayer, scripture memorization, fellowship, serving others, gratitude, worship, meditating on God’s word – you’ll find your trust in God’s sovereignty growing. And with it, your faith will be strengthened for whatever comes your way.
Final reflection: It’s a journey
When it comes to faith, there is no one-size-fits-all. The journey is personal and unique to each one of us.
These 8 Christian habits are not a checklist to measure your faith or a magic formula for eliminating hardship. They are tools, aids to help navigate the often tumultuous seas of life.
There’s a scripture in the Bible, in Proverbs 3:5-6 that says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This is the essence of these habits – trust. In the midst of tough times, when understanding fails and the path ahead seems uncertain, trust in God’s sovereignty becomes our anchor.
It’s not an easy journey. There will be moments of doubt, moments when these habits seem futile. But remember that faith isn’t built in a day. It’s a journey, a process of growing closer to God and learning to rely on Him more and more.
In the end, it’s not about how well we perform these habits but about who we become through them – individuals who are deeply rooted in faith, resilient in adversity, and radiant with the love of God.
As you reflect on these habits and how they can strengthen your faith during tough times, remember – it’s a journey. And every step you take brings you closer to Him.
