In the context of the Bible, a habit refers to a regular practice or behavior that is ingrained in an individual's life. Habits can be either virtuous or sinful, and Scripture provides guidance on cultivating godly habits while avoiding those that lead to sin.

Biblical Perspective on Habits

The Bible emphasizes the importance of developing habits that align with God's will. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul advises, "Train yourself for godliness. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." This passage highlights the necessity of spiritual discipline and the formation of habits that foster godliness.

Positive Habits

1. Prayer and Meditation: Regular prayer is a foundational habit for believers. Daniel exemplifies this in Daniel 6:10, where he continues his practice of praying three times a day despite the threat of persecution. Jesus also modeled this habit, often withdrawing to solitary places to pray (Luke 5:16).

2. Scripture Reading and Study: The Bereans were commended for their habit of examining the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). This practice is essential for spiritual growth and discernment.

3. Worship and Fellowship: Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers not to forsake assembling together, highlighting the importance of communal worship and fellowship as a habitual practice.

4. Generosity and Service: Acts 10:2 describes Cornelius as a devout man who "gave generously to the people and prayed to God continually." Generosity and service are habits that reflect the character of Christ.

Negative Habits

1. Sinful Behaviors: The Bible warns against habits that lead to sin. Proverbs 5:22 states, "The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him; he is entangled in the cords of his own sin." Sinful habits can become strongholds that hinder spiritual growth.

2. Idleness and Laziness: Proverbs 6:9-11 warns against the habit of laziness, which leads to poverty and want. Believers are encouraged to be diligent and industrious.

3. Gossip and Slander: Ephesians 4:29 advises, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need." The habit of speaking negatively about others is discouraged.

Transformation of Habits

The transformation of habits is a key aspect of the Christian life. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation involves replacing sinful habits with those that reflect the character of Christ.

Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in helping believers develop godly habits. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues are cultivated through the Spirit's work in a believer's life.

Conclusion

Habits, whether positive or negative, significantly impact a believer's spiritual journey. The Bible provides guidance on cultivating habits that honor God and reflect His character, while also warning against those that lead to sin and spiritual stagnation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to transform their habits and live lives that glorify God.1. (n.) The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

2. (n.) The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.

3. (n.) Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior.

4. (n.) Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit.

5. (n.) To inhabit.

6. (n.) To dress; to clothe; to array.

7. (n.) To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] Chapman.

1485. ethos -- custom, a usage (prescribed by habit or law)
... custom, a usage (prescribed by habit or law). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ethos Phonetic Spelling: (eth'-os) Short Definition: a custom ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1485.htm - 7k

1838. hexis -- habit, practice
... habit, practice. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hexis Phonetic
Spelling: (hex'-is) Short Definition: condition, state, habit Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1838.htm - 6k

4914. sunetheia -- habit, habitual use
... habit, habitual use. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sunetheia Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-ay'-thi-ah) Short Definition: a custom, habit Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4914.htm - 6k

2239. ethos -- custom
... custom. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ethos Phonetic Spelling:
(ay'-thos) Short Definition: habit, manner, custom, morals Definition: habit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2239.htm - 7k

4976. schema -- figure, shape
... figure, shape. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: schema Phonetic Spelling:
(skhay'-mah) Short Definition: fashion, habit, form, appearance Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4976.htm - 7k

1774. enoikeo -- to dwell in
... 1774 (from 1722 "in," intensifying 3611 , "dwell" at home, one's personal residence) --
properly, dwelling a state (condition), ie ; to ("in-habit") as one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1774.htm - 7k

1486. etho -- to be accustomed, part. custom
... by custom, manner. A primary verb; to be used (by habit or conventionality);
neuter perfect participle usage -- be custom (manner, wont). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1486.htm - 6k

1253. diakrisis -- the act of judgment
... food relates to mature people (5046 ), of those having the sense-faculties trained
('exercised,' Gk perfect tense) on account of the habit -- [namely] for ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1253.htm - 7k

1484. ethnos -- a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct ...
... Probably from etho; a race (as of the same habit), ie A tribe; specially, a foreign
(non-Jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan) -- Gentile, heathen ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1484.htm - 7k

4238. prasso -- to do, practice
... 4238 -- properly, the active in performing (accomplishing) a deed, and implying
what is done as a -- ie a routine or habit (cf. R. Trench). Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4238.htm - 9k

7910. shikkor -- drunken
... drunkard,. Or shikkor {shik-kore'}; from shakar; intoxicated, as a state or a habit --
drunk(-ard, -en, -en man). see HEBREW shakar. 7909b, 7910. ...
/hebrew/7910.htm - 6k

5056. naggach -- given to goring (used of bulls)
... goring. Word Origin from nagach Definition given to goring (used of bulls)
NASB Word Usage habit of goring (2). used wont to push. ...
/hebrew/5056.htm - 6k

Whether Habit is a Quality?
... TREATISE ON HABITS (QQ -54)OF HABITS IN GENERAL, AS TO THEIR SUBSTANCE (FOUR ARTICLES)
Whether habit is a quality? ... Therefore habit is not a quality. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether habit is a quality.htm

Prayer a Habit.
... Prayer Prayer a Habit. ... And I would not be surprised to find more yet coming out
of it. First of all, it means that prayer should be a habit. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/prayer a habit.htm

Whether any Habit is in the Will?
... OF THE SUBJECT OF HABITS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether any habit is in the will? Objection
1: It would seem that there is not a habit in the will. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any habit is in.htm

Whether Original Sin is a Habit?
... OF ORIGINAL SIN, AS TO ITS ESSENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether original sin is a habit?
Objection 1: It would seem that original sin is not a habit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether original sin is a.htm

Whether Prophecy is a Habit?
... TREATISE ON GRATUITOUS GRACES (QQ -182)OF PROPHECY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether prophecy
is a habit? Objection 1: It would seem that prophecy is a habit. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether prophecy is a habit.htm

Whether the Natural Law is a Habit?
... OF THE NATURAL LAW (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the natural law is a habit?
Objection 1: It would seem that the natural law is a habit. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the natural law is.htm

Whether a Habit Can Diminish?
... HOW HABITS ARE CORRUPTED OR DIMINISHED (THREE ARTICLES) Whether a habit can diminish?
Objection 1: It would seem that a habit cannot diminish. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a habit can diminish.htm

Whether the Soul is the Subject of Habit in Respect of Its Essence ...
... OF THE SUBJECT OF HABITS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the soul is the subject of
habit in respect of its essence or in respect of its power? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the soul is the.htm

Whether Habit Implies Order to an Act?
... TREATISE ON HABITS (QQ -54)OF HABITS IN GENERAL, AS TO THEIR SUBSTANCE (FOUR
ARTICLES) Whether habit implies order to an act? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether habit implies order to.htm

Whether a Habit Can be Corrupted?
... HOW HABITS ARE CORRUPTED OR DIMINISHED (THREE ARTICLES) Whether a habit can be
corrupted? Objection 1: It would seem that a habit cannot be corrupted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a habit can be 2.htm

Habit (9 Occurrences)
... or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something
had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose ...
/h/habit.htm - 10k

Use (620 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Continued or repeated practice; customary employment; usage; custom;
manner; habit. 5. (vt) Common occurrence; ordinary experience. ...
/u/use.htm - 8k

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)
... The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which
is thus described: "The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that ...
/o/ostrich.htm - 18k

Goring (2 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been
testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a ...
/g/goring.htm - 7k

Ethics
... According to the Greek signification of the term, it is the science of customs
(ethika, from ethos, "custom," "habit," "disposition"). ...
/e/ethics.htm - 70k

Discipline (63 Occurrences)
... regular action; drill. 3. (n.) Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order
and control; habit of obedience. 4. (n.) Severe training ...
/d/discipline.htm - 25k

Manner (351 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Characteristic mode of acting, conducting, carrying one's self, or the like;
bearing; habitual style. 3. (n.) Customary method of acting; habit. ...
/m/manner.htm - 45k

Penned (3 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been
testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a ...
/p/penned.htm - 7k

Practice (71 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Frequently repeated or customary action; habitual performance; a succession
of acts of a similar kind; usage; habit; custom; as, the practice of rising ...
/p/practice.htm - 28k

Bull (114 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:29 But if the bull had a habit of goring in the past, and it has been
testified to its owner, and he has not kept it in, but it has killed a man or a ...
/b/bull.htm - 40k

What does the Bible say about habits? | GotQuestions.org

How can I take control of my thoughts? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about nagging? | GotQuestions.org

Habit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus