Habits | Justin Whitmel Earley
If these emails are all about helping each other live out the Gospel in every area of life, two things need to happen:
We need to have Biblical roots in what the Gospel is
We need to pursue the Gospel collectively and individually, sharing resources and encouragement along the way.
Faithfulness is pursued together.
Every year at Jubilee, dozens of speakers come from across the nation (and sometimes from other countries!) to share how the Gospel transforms corners and avenues of our lives. They dive into specific careers, bigger ideas, and hard-to-talk-about topics.
At Jubilee 2024, Justin Whitmel Earley returned to the Jubilee stage (after four years!) to talk to us about our habits. He argued that the best way to address our restless and anxious hearts is to adopt habits that point us to God and nothing else: “Your habits are shaping you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Your habits are forming you far more than you are forming them.”
The Gospel tells us that our Creator God is sovereign over everything, and he is the ultimate good. He is love.
So why wouldn’t we want habits that point us towards that good love? As we build habits that point us towards God, we become formed and shaped by the Gospel. And that is some good stuff.
If you’re in a place where you know that your habits are running your life and distracting you from God’s presence, it’s okay. This is slow work; it’s work that takes a lifetime to grow into. Be gentle to yourself and remind yourself that you are a creation of the steadfast Creator God. Your habits will never change that.
“Your habits won't change God's love for you but God's love for you should change your habits.“ — Justin Whitmel Earley
We’ve got a reflection guide that includes a free habit tracker. As you set habits for yourself, keep in mind that it is not an overnight thing! We all build habits slowly. Start small, seek accountability, and be gentle to yourself. Choose habits that are small & quick to start out with, and add more later (think: the snowball effect). Check out the guide for some ideas to get you started. You’ve got this!
the heart + our habits
These twelve minutes pack a punch. If you are looking for some motivation to start taking your habits seriously, click below.
MORE FROM THE SPEAKER
Book
— The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction
— Made for People: Why We Drift into Loneliness and How to Fight for a Life of Friendship
Pro-tip: You can still order from Hearts & Minds Bookstore!
Website
— Find more resources and info about Justin at his website: justinwhitmelearley.com
Social Media
— Follow Justin on Instagram!
P.S. Try out some new habits in community! Next time you have dinner with some friends, make a habit to keep all phones either turned off or away in your bags. Next time you want to connect with someone, give them a call instead of texting. See what happens.
— The Jubilee Team