01-04-2026 Developing Holy Habits for the New Year
Text: Philippians 4:6-8
It’s hard to believe that we have started the year 2026. Many people begin each new year by making resolutions to do certain things differently. But the fact is, we’re all creatures of habit. And it’s also true that our habits are what develops us and our behaviors. As Christians, we should make it a practice to develop holy habits that will help us to be true to our Christian faith. What are holy habits? They’re habits that enable us to start each day right, that will allow us to stop worrying, that will cause us to stop being overly critical, make us a blessing to others, and above all, cause us to live Christ-centered lives.
Our text this morning is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 to 8 where he writes: “ (6) Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” It sounds simple enough when we read it but let’s take a deeper look at what it actually means.
Verse 6 begins by telling us to ‘be careful for nothing.” This means that we don’t have to be anxious or afraid about anything. In other words, stop worrying and stop being afraid. Faith and fear are opposites. When we develop habits that build our faith and Godly character, our fears will naturally fade away. The Bible is the source of our faith as we are told in Romans 10:17 because as we study our Bible we learn more and more about the love and plans that God has for each one of us. As our exposure to Scripture deepens, our faith grows stronger because our minds become saturated with the knowledge of what God has done for us and how much He loves us.
If you start the day with the Bible, it’s a guarantee that you will have a better day because your mind is attuned to what God is telling you through His Word. Bible reading turns our hearts and thoughts to the Gospel which is good news of Jesus Christ. The greatest story ever told is how Jesus left the glory of Heaven to live as a human being and to ultimately be crucified on the Cross to pay the ransom for our sins so that we could be reconciled back into the family of God. And, when we regularly read the Bible, we’re equipping ourselves to share the Gospel with others.
Verses 6 and 7 tells us that we should start the day by being thankful. When we stop worrying and choose to start trusting God, we experience a peace that only God can give us and is impossible for the world to understand. When we choose to trust we can expect that God will always come through for us no matter what we may be facing. We should give thanks for things that we have been taking for granted in the past. We should give thanks for the blessings that we have received and for those that we have yet to receive. And we should always give thanks that God loves us so much that He allowed His Son Jesus to die for us.
Imagine never being anxious about anything. Yes, it may seem impossible that this could happen in your life. After all everyone has worries on the job, at home, in relationships, and even at school. But Paul’s excellent advice to us is to turn our worries into prayers. If you want to worry less, pray more! Whenever you find yourself starting to worry, stop and pray. Just give it up to God and He will take care of it. And don’t forget to take time to listen to what God has to say to you and never forget to thank Him for all the excellent work He has done in your life, in your church, in your community, and in the world.
God’s peace is different from the world’s peace. It doesn’t mean you will never have problems or difficulties in your life. And it’s not found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It a peace that comes when you fully trust God to work everything out in a way that’s best for you as you fulfill your role in doing God’s work in the world. It comes when we know that our citizenship in Christ’s eternal kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Make it a habit to let God’s peace guard your heart against the anxieties of this world that try to bring you down and keep your focus off Jesus. When we trust God, He gives us a peaceful perspective in a traffic jam, on a difficult phone call, in a troubled relationship, and even when death comes near.
Verses 8 shows us that we should spend our days focusing on positive things. Positive things are those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and praiseworthy. And we should also focus on the positive traits in others. All this will make us able to become more positive people.
It’s a fact that what we allow into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. Paul is telling us the kinds of things we need to train our minds to focus on. If you have problems with misguided thoughts and daydreams, examine what you’re putting into your mind through movies, the internet, books, conversations, television, video games, magazines, and even relationships. Make it a habit to replace all harmful input with wholesome material. Above all, read God’s Word daily and pray often. Ask God to help you fill your mind with good, positive, and pure thoughts. This takes practice but it isn’t impossible to do, even though it may seem that it’s impossible to escape from the amount of negative stuff we’re exposed to.
So as you go forward into this new year, challenge yourself to become a better Chistian. Take the time to read the Bible daily to learn how much God loves you, then return that love to others through your thoughts and actions.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.