A few years ago a friend who was considered one of the best preachers in conservative circles was caught in an inappropriate relationship. Not too long before, a famous apologist who loved to prove Christianity right in debates—and did it admirably—died, and a double life was discovered; his reputation forever ruined. Recently, a TGC council member and speaker, one whom I have had the privilege of speaking with, resigned over sin in his life that was discovered two years after the fact. Young people, even those who believe they are called to a life of ministry, are drowning in a sea of pervasive sexual sin, and those who are older are often not doing much better. Canada, we have a problem.
When I was young, we were taught to consider the mistakes of others and take heed lest we fall. In other words, the shattered lives of those we once esteemed should teach us to solidify our own, to seek to leak-proof our spiritual lives. It is easier to throw stones of condemnation. My observation is that those who do so most loudly are trapped in their own tragic battles and are consciously (or unconsciously) seeking to hide their inner battles with attacks on others.
Keystone Habits
So what do we do? To ignore the problem makes a tragic ending more likely, and to focus on the problem seems to dishonour Jesus and surface even more hypocrisy.
The Christian life isn’t accidental; it doesn’t unravel or flourish randomly. It is shaped by a small number of deeply embedded patterns that quietly, steadily form everything else. Christians have called these patterns ways, paths, or even disciplines. In our current cultural language, I prefer to call them keystone habits. They are practices that don’t just exist alongside the Christian life, but actually shape it at the heart level when practiced in the Spirit’s power.
Whether we realize it or not, every one of us is being formed by choices we make, even those that are subconscious. If we have a problem in Canada, then surely one of the solutions is to call those who name the name of Christ and believe the glorious gospel to grow in these keystone habits. Whether you are starting the Christian life or have been a Christian for a long time, developing these habits will set you up for long-term faithfulness and relational success.
The Myth of Passive Growth
One of the most common assumptions in the Christian life is that growth will simply happen naturally over time. Stay around church long enough, hear enough sermons, attend enough gatherings, and maturity will follow. Be religious and eventually you will be who you say you are.
But Scripture never speaks that way. In fact the storyline of so many men and women in the Bible includes a drift to apostasy or worldliness.
The apostle Paul uses the language of training: “Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7). The writer of Hebrews speaks of laying aside weights and running with endurance and fixation (Heb. 12:1–3). Jesus himself calls his disciples not merely to admire him, but to abide in him (John 15:4–5).
The consistent message is clear. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it is intentional. You will become the person at the end of the pathway you are following today.
As we begin this journey it is wise to express some caution. This is not a call to self-salvation or moral striving apart from grace. The Bible is absolutely clear that transformation is ultimately God’s work and all of grace (Col. 1:29), and even our disciplined pursuit is his gracious gift when it accomplishes the character we long for (Eph. 2:8–10). We strive because God has worked in our hearts, and our striving is in itself a grace gift from him (1 Cor. 15:10). Effort and discipline must be in the context of the grace God has given.
With that warning out of the way, read on to learn how to guard your life against conformity to the culture and becoming another tragic statistic, and how to grow in our conformity to Christ.
Defining a Keystone Habit
A keystone habit is a practice that impacts many important areas of life. It is not just one habit among many, it is a habit that drives and forms other habits consciously and subconsciously.
We can think of examples from regular life. Regular exercise often leads to better eating, better sleep, and clearer thinking. Eating meals together as a family statistically increases the grades of the children who are at the table.
The same is true spiritually.
There are certain habits that, when cultivated, begin to reorder the whole of our lives. They shape what we love, how we think, what we pursue, and how we are growing to live with an all-defining relationship with God.
These habits, instead of replacing grace, are disciplines of grace through which we increasingly experience God’s grace in all of life.
The Keystone Habits of G.R.A.C.E.
Over time, I’ve found it helpful to summarize the essential Christian keystone habits in a simple framework that includes a reminder of God’s favour and power in our lives:
G.R.A.C.E.
- G — Gospel Oriented
- R — Rooted in the Word
- A — Aware of God’s Presence
- C — Called To Be Ambassadors
- E — Engaged in “First Love” Devotion
Each one addresses a fundamental area of formation to overflow in its impact:
- How we are motivated (gospel, not flesh)
- How we think (Word, not world)
- How we are strengthened and holy (God, not self)
- How we live (mission, not distractions)
- How we love (devotion, not religion)
Taken together, they help us answer a deeper question: How can I truly grow as a follower of Jesus and seek to have my entire life impacted by my relationship with Jesus? They help to put the new believer on the right pathway and to keep the mature believer out of the dangerous ditches.
Grace-Driven Love-Growing
At this point, it’s important to say clearly: These habits are not about earning God’s favour or becoming “a better Christian”. They are about living in a growing, all-defining relationship with Jesus. Which means these habits are not burdens, they are gifts that help us to live in the freedom that has been purchased for us by our Saviour.
They are the means by which we return to the gospel again and again with joy, renew our minds in truth, depend on God in weakness for peace and power, live on mission with clarity as ambassadors, and cultivate real love for God as his beloved children.
The Question Beneath the Surface
At the end of the day, the issue is not whether you have habits. You do. The real question is: What kind of habits are forming you, and are you conscious of these life-shaping habits?
It is sobering to reflect on how easily each of us can be shaped by fleshly, worldly thinking, the pace of our schedules, and the pull of comfort and distraction. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can be shaped by intentional, grace-driven keystone habits that draw us back to Christ and daily help us grow.
A Simple Starting Point
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life overnight. But you do need to begin. Pick one area, start small, and be consistent.
And above all, remember: the goal is not discipline for its own sake but intimacy with Christ. To live as an ambassador, holy, set apart by God and for God, unstained by the world. To see him more clearly. To love him more deeply. And to become, over time, more like his Son.
In the following articles, we will explore in more detail each of these keystone habits.
