Establishing Non-Negotiable Daily Habits

Have you ever been frustrated because things didn't go as planned? Have you ever wondered why things never go right? Have you felt a sense of overwhelm when you have so much to do? Do you feel like you can't get anything done? 

If you have felt this way quite often, it may mean that we need to set some boundaries. Are you afraid of setting boundaries? If so, establishing non-negotiable daily habits can help you get things done, but most importantly, have peace, less stress and overwhelm, by applying these habits right away.

The Foundation of Kingdom Living

It's important to understand what kingdom living means. We have a certain way of thinking because we do what makes sense to us, and continue doing the things that have worked for so long that we become apprehensive about stepping out of our comfort zone. This mindset is not one that comes from God. The Word of God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For are the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts” (AMP). 

Did you know that the human mind operates from scarcity, self-reliance, and earthly wisdom? 

We think in terms of limited resources, finite time, what we can control through our own effort. We develop strategies based on past experiences and cultural expectations, creating comfort zones that feel safe and but often keep us spiritually stagnant. This way of thinking says, “I'll seek God when I have time,” or “I'll prioritize God once I get my life together.” 

But Kingdom thinking operates from abundance, dependence on God, and Godly wisdom. God's economy doesn't follow earthly logic. In His Kingdom, when you give, you receive more. When you surrender control, you gain true power. When you die to yourself, you find real life. Meaning, when we stop doing what the world says to do, when we stop giving in to our own desires, then and only then, we find freedom. Jesus embodied this way of Kingdom thinking when He said the first shall be last, the meek shall inherit the earth, and losing your life (stop doing it in your own strength) is the way to find it (Matthew 20:16, KJV).

The shift from human thinking to Kingdom thinking requires what Scripture calls the “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2, KJV). This doesn't mean only changing our opinions and beliefs - it's fundamentally rewiring how we process reality itself. Kingdom living means looking at your time, resources, relationships, and priorities through God's eternal perspective rather than temporary earthly concerns. 

When Jesus commands us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” He's not giving us another item to add to our already overwhelming to-do list. He's revealing the secret to a life that actually works - a life where our deepest needs are met, our greatest purposes are fulfilled, and our highest joy is discovered. But this requires abandoning the human tendency to put God second, third, or last in our priority list.

Why Faith-driven Habits Matter More Than Goals: Daily Communion With God Shapes Our Character and Eternal Perspective 

It's impossible to function right without God. I have put myself to the test. I am my own “guinea pig” when testing things out. I have to see it for myself to educate others and myself. The Word of God says, “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” Creating Godly habits that will get us closer to Him, it's what's going to shape everything we do.

Daily communion with Him is devoting ourselves to be in His presence and let the Holy Spirit of God lead the way. You will be amazed at how wonderful God is, if you don't know this already. Praise Jesus!

Goals focus on destinations; habits focus on direction. A goal says, “I want to read through the Bible this year.” A habit says, "I am someone who meets with God in His Word every day.” Goals can be achieved and then abandoned, but habits become part of who you are. 

Goals are event-oriented; habits are identity-oriented. When we set spiritual goals, we're often motivated by external expectations or temporary inspiration. But when we establish spiritual habits, we're declaring, “This is who I am - a person who communes with the Father daily.” This identity-based approach creates sustainable transformation because it's rooted in our core sense of self rather than external achievements.

Daily communion with God rewires our default responses to life. When we consistently spend time in God’s presence, reading His Word, and aligning our hearts with His, we begin to think like He thinks and respond like He responds (Romans 8:31). The anxious person becomes peaceful (Philippians 4:6). The fearful person becomes courageous (Joshua 1:9). This doesn't happen through will power or goal-setting - it happens through consistent exposure to God's character and truth.

Spiritual habits create eternal perspective in a temporal world. Every day we're bombarded with messages about what matters, what's urgent, what deserves our attention. Without daily recalibration through spiritual disciplines, we inevitably drift toward earthly priorities and short-term thinking. But when we begin each day in God's presence, we see our circumstances through God's lense, making decisions based on eternal significance rather than immediate gratification. 

The Compound Effect: Consistent Spiritual Disciplines Creates Exponential Growth in Faith and Intimacy with God 

Imagine every time we sit down and have coffee (or tea or hot chocolate) with God, we get downloads of ideas to the point of not knowing what to do with them. That was me for a long time. They were good ideas, but I was getting so many mental downloads, I had to stop and ask the Lord to teach me to order my thoughts, order my steps, lead the way, and show me how to have structure. My mind was so scattered that I was going nowhere. Definitely not moving forward. 

Just as compound interest turns small financial investments into substantial wealth over time, consistent spiritual habits create exponential growth in our relationship with God. Fifteen minutes of daily Bible reading might seem insignificant, but over a year, that's 91 hours of Scripture intake - enough to transform your entire thought pattern and worldview.

When we combine daily Bible reading with prayer, worship, and journaling, the effect isn't just 1+1+1+1=4. It's more like 1x1x1x1 becoming something far greater than the sum of its parts. Each discipline enhances and amplifies the others, creating spiritual momentum that accelerates your growth.

It's better to spend 10 minutes with God every day for a year than to have occasional hour-long sessions followed by weeks of neglect. Consistent connection maintains the flow of relationship, while sporadic intensity creates a cycle of connection and disconnection that hinders intimate fellowship.

Just as consistent spiritual habits create exponential growth, consistent spiritual neglect creates exponential drift. Every day we skip our time with God, we become slightly more vulnerable to temptation, slightly more anxious about circumstances, slightly more focused on earthly concerns. Over time, these small compromises compound into spiritual lethargy and distance from God.

Identity-Based Change: “I am Redeemed!”

If you see yourself as “someone who is not very disciplined” or “someone who is too busy for God,” your behavior will align with that identity. But if you embrace the truth that you are God’s beloved child, created for intimate fellowship with Him, your habits will naturally flow from that identity. 

Instead of saying, “I want to pray more,” declare, “I am someone who talks to my Heavenly Father throughout the day.” Instead of saying, “I should read my Bible more,” declare, “I am someone who feeds on God’s Word daily because it’s my daily bread.”

You don’t become God’s child by having perfect spiritual disciplines. You already are God's child, which means intimate fellowship with Him is your birthright, not your burden. Your spiritual habits are simply the means by which you enjoy and steward the relationship you already possess.

A child naturally wants to spend time with a loving parent. A bride naturally wants to communicate with her beloved. When we truly understand that you are God's cherished child and Christ's beloved bride, the desire for daily communion becomes intrinsic rather than imposed.

The foundation of Kingdom living is this transformation of mind, motivation, and identity. When we abandon human thinking, replace goal oriented spirituality with identity-based habits, and embrace the compound power of consistent communion with God, we position ourselves to experience the abundant life that Jesus promised - a life where seeking His Kingdom first truly results in everything else being added to us (Matthew 6:33).