Righteous Habits: Spiritual Habit Tracking

Watch Sermon "Righteous Habits" now on YouTube.

Vessel Church: Righteous Habits Blog Post — Watch guest speaker Cameron McLaurin's Sermon "Righteous Habits" now on YouTube.

Have you ever considered how the small habits you form can shape the course of your life? The story of Benjamin Franklin offers a powerful example of how intentional habits can lead to transformation.

The Power of Intentional Habits

Benjamin Franklin, known as a Founding Father, writer, scientist, and diplomat, wasn’t always the wise figure we remember. In his early years, he was impulsive, prideful, and reckless in speech and action. Recognizing how these traits held him back, Franklin committed to change.

He created a list of 13 virtues, including temperance and humility, which he believed were essential for a moral and productive life. But he didn’t stop there. Franklin implemented a habit-tracking system, focusing on one virtue each week, recording his successes and failures. Over time, his disciplined approach transformed him into a respected leader.

Franklin once said, “Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones.” His story reminds us that true transformation doesn’t happen by accident—it’s a result of deliberate, righteous habits.

Habits Shape Who We Become

A habit is simply a behavior done so often that it becomes automatic. Think about how you learned to tie your shoes or drive a car. At first, it required intense focus, but now you do it without thinking. In the same way, we can build habits that shape us into people of character and faith.

Unfortunately, not all habits lead us toward righteousness. Some are harmful, pulling us away from God’s purpose. Hitting snooze, mindless scrolling, neglecting prayer, and harboring resentment are just a few examples. Paul speaks directly about this in Ephesians 4:17-24, urging believers to put off their old, destructive habits and embrace a renewed life in Christ.

“You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts. They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God… But that is not how you came to know Christ… to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:17-24)

Paul calls us to renew our minds and adopt righteous habits. Let’s explore how we can do this in three steps:

Cultivating Righteous Habits

Step 1: Take Out the Trash

Before Franklin could build good habits, he had to confront his bad ones. Imagine walking into a house filled with rotting garbage. It’s unbearable. But when we live in spiritual clutter—like pride, laziness, or negativity—we often become desensitized. The smell becomes normal.

Paul warns against “futile thinking” and “hardened hearts” in Ephesians 4:18. Futile thinking serves no purpose, while hardened hearts make us resistant to God’s truth. Unhealthy habits flourish when we ignore God’s guidance.

Ask yourself:

What unhealthy thoughts or behaviors have I normalized?
Am I neglecting prayer, scripture, or fellowship?
Is there anger, fear, or dishonesty that I’ve justified?

We can’t hope our bad habits will disappear on their own. Just like taking out the trash, we must intentionally remove what’s holding us back.

Step 2: Train Your Thoughts

After clearing out the trash, Franklin disciplined his mind by focusing on one virtue at a time. Similarly, Paul calls us to be “renewed in the spirit of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23).

True transformation requires more than rejecting toxic habits; we must replace them with God’s truth. For example:

Struggle with fear? Meditate on God’s courage.
Battle pride? Practice humility through service.
Fight laziness? Commit to diligence in your responsibilities.

Daily disciplines like reading Scripture, praying, and surrounding yourself with godly influences will train your mind and build lasting habits. Track your progress, set boundaries, and stay accountable.

Step 3: Embrace Transformation

Paul concludes by encouraging us to “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24). This transformation isn’t instant, nor is it simply about self-improvement. It’s about becoming more like Christ.

Through his sacrifice, Jesus bore our sins and offered us a new life. 1 Peter 2:24 reminds us:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Just as Franklin’s commitment to small habits led to great transformation, our spiritual growth begins with consistent, righteous choices. As we remove the trash, renew our minds, and embrace our new identity in Christ, we’ll see big results—not for our glory, but for His.

Reflection Questions: