5 Simple Ways to Be a More Disciplined Christian

Do you feel like the world always tells you to be busy, busy, busy? It’s easy to get tired and let the most important things slip away.

Braxten Mecham, the host of the House of Jacob podcast, talks about a problem we all have: not having good habits. He is super honest about his own life—he balances school, the podcast, social media, and church work. He explains how being so tired can cause him to stop doing the most important things first.

If you’ve ever been too busy or too tired to pray or read your Bible, this list is for you. Here are five simple things you can learn to help you keep your spiritual habits and find rest in your daily routine.

1. What You Stop Doing First When You’re Tired

When you feel stressed, busy, or just worn out, what do you give up first? For most people, it’s their time with God: reading the Bible, praying every day, or spending time with church friends.

Physical habits like eating right or exercising might stay, but your special time with Jesus is often the first thing to go. Why? Because it takes energy! We feel tired in our body and mind, and then spending time with God feels like another big job. The most important step is to notice when this pattern starts.

2. Don’t Believe the Lie: God’s Rest is Not a Burden

Sometimes, bad thoughts or lies tell us that spending time with God will make us even more tired or stressed. This is simply not true.

Jesus promises the opposite. He said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Your habits of faith should make your soul fresh and full of life, not worn out. Jesus wants to give you peace, not more stress.

3. Your Habits are How You Fight

If you want a strong reason to keep your good habits, think of this: your daily routine is where you fight for what is right. Author John Mark Homer says that spiritual habits are like spiritual fighting.

This is how we fight against bad things in the world and in our own hearts. A Christian without good habits is like a person who is confused or just floating around. Every time you read your Bible, you are building your strength and defending your heart.

4. Make a Time You Cannot Change

One big mistake is letting your time with God get pushed aside until you’re too tired to do it. You think: “I’ll do it after sports practice… oh wait, now I have homework… okay, I only have five minutes!”

The answer is to have a clear plan. You must find a time slot and make it a must-do part of your day.

• Maybe you wake up a little earlier to give God an hour before school or work.
• Maybe you use the end of your night for prayer instead of looking at your phone.

Make your schedule around this fixed time so that nothing can easily take it away.

5. It Gets Easier as a Habit

Building good habits takes time, but it’s a good thing you put time into. Your brain is made to build habits, and the more you do something, the simpler it becomes.

Think of going to the gym. It’s really hard at first, but after a few weeks, it becomes harder to skip than it is to go! The same is true for your spiritual life. Start today, even if it feels tough, and soon your time with God will be the routine your heart really wants.

Simple Steps to Start:

1. Look Closely: Which habit is hard for you right now (praying, reading, or being with church friends)?
2. Pick a Time: Choose one 30-60 minute time slot this week that you will not change. Make sure nothing stops you from doing it.
3. Start Small: Don’t try to go from zero to two hours right away. Start with just 15 minutes of focused effort and build from there.