After my first shoulder surgery, two decades ago, and after all the life-inside-out months of healing and therapy and exercise and persistence, my doctor told me that this would never really go away. It’s not the kind of thing you can get through and get over, be done with it now. “You will always need to strengthen this joint and the muscles around it, keep it strong, in order for this repair to be worth anything.” And I did, but life and time have a way of eroding most human efforts, and so I faced a second go-around just a couple years ago. Worse this time, because I knew what was coming. “Better this time,” the doctor said, “because you know what it takes to get through this, and you already have those habits of strength built into your life from the last time.”

We talked about growing strong in our small group on Wednesday. We eat and rest several times a day for our bodies to stay strong and able to do our work. Why would it be such a novel concept that we would need to build faith-strength daily, as well? And if you’ve been down to the bottom you know that this brokenness never really goes away….it’s not the kind of thing you get through and are done with. This is life as a sin-bent human and the way to live as a Christ-follower, one of the redeemed, is to build those strength habits right in and commit to it for life.

David Jeremiah writes of five life-changing habits to build into your New Year, and they read like strength exercises for the soul.

• Personally connect with others on Christ’s behalf. It’s what Paul was doing twenty centuries ago and his words still speak to us: “…we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!'” (2 Corinthians 5:20) Tell your own God-story and be His hands and feet to the people around you so they can meet Him too.
• Quiet your heart before God. There is no substitute in this noisy busy world for unplugging everything and meeting God alone. Often. “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15b) Focusing on Him changes everything. It changes me.
• Drink in God’s truth as if it were your only hope. Pastor Jeremiah writes: “It takes a living book to sustain a living spiritual person. It takes a book written by the Spirit of God to connect with the spirit of man.” It really is the guidebook that can get you safe Home through the wilderness and the dark, that will keep your feet walking straight and your heart from despair.
• Be a servant. Jesus said “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40) Not just because we love Him but because we want to be like Him who touched the lepers, who washed dusty feet, who carried the cross…where do we even start to learn to serve with that kind of joy and freedom?
• Step back and see the big picture of God’s plans. He is bringing redemption to mankind and restoration to the world He created, and we are invited to participate. Join in the mission and make His priorities yours. It is the single biggest adventure in life, to take the gospel “to the ends of the earth.”

These five strength-building habits take time, perseverance, energy– no question about it. But here’s another Kingdom paradox, that spiritual disciplines cannot be gained with sheer power of will, but only by heart-deep surrender to the power of God. It will take a lifetime of putting into practice, a constant choice to bend Self to the reign of the King…but strength grows with the practice, and faith puts down roots till the very landscape of a soul changes. This is a forever lifestyle. I would not choose any other.

“I give my life to you
My heart to you
You’re all I need
Come and make me new…

Jesus Christ, take our lives, 
We won’t waste another day; 
Holy God, fill our hearts, 
We won’t ever be the same.” (Give My Life to You– Elevation Worship)

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17)