10 Spiritual Habits that Will Increase Your Inner Peace

In this world, there will be troubles, but developing certain habits can make your life better by bringing you peace within your days.

1. Gratitude

He is with me to help me remember gratitude for my precious life.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

No matter what is going on in my life, I can be thankful that I have another day. I can be thankful when I notice that my basic needs are met. There are people in this world that don’t have their necessities. They can be thankful that I can pray for them. Most of all, I can be thankful that God is with me. 

2. Be Slow to Speak and Quick to Listen

He is with me to help me listen more and wait to speak my mind.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19

Often, I want what I want when I want it. Therefore, my mouth can speak much too quickly. I’m much better off when I take a deep breath and hold those initial thoughts. Then I can listen completely to another person’s thoughts before I compose my reply. And even after I’ve listened, sometimes the first thing out of my mouth should be a question. Can you tell me more? How do you feel about that? Questions convey compassion to another person. In this world, opinions are voiced very quickly. Opinions give insight as to how someone is feeling. But everyone should get a chance to share freely.

3. Be Humble and Gentle

He wants to show me how to be humble and gentle in my daily interactions.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:3-4

It’s funny that when I look to help someone else, somehow my needs get met too. God takes care of me as I help others. Christ didn’t come into the world to show Himself as great. He already knew who He was. He came into the world to help and save others.

4. Show Reverence for God

He reminds me who He is and that when I look to Him, things seem better.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Daniel 6:10

When my habit is to show reverence for and thank God daily, I will do it no matter what is happening in the world. Chaos is always alive in the world, but God is the antidote to that chaos. Letting His peace into my heart will keep the chaos out.

5. Exercise Daily

He helps me to take care of my body and my health.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Romans 12:1

1 Timothy 4:8 says that training my mind and spirit for godliness is more important than physical training. Godliness is more important because it will last for all of eternity. But physical activity is also good for this life. My body was created for movement. Muscles, bones, and joints were created for me to move freely. So taking care of my physical body honors God’s creation.

6. Serve Others and Bear with Them in Love

He helps me to look to others more often than I look to myself.

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13

I am free to live however I want but the things I want to do should help others in some way. My freedom is enhanced when I help others to be free as well. 

In the same way, I always need to remember that I make mistakes all the time. God graciously forgives me when I repent. So I must forgive the mistakes of others as well.

7. Praying Instead of Worrying

He reminds me to pray instead of worry.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Worrying is a waste of time. It does nothing except make me anxious. It is a natural tendency, but I can make every effort to notice I’m doing it as quickly as possible and then turn the same words that are running through my mind as worry into a prayer to my living God. He cares for me and wants me to experience His peace. Instead of thinking, Why is this happening, I can speak, Lord, I may never know the why behind this but I have trust that you will use it for your good.

8. Read God’s Word

He shows me that the answers I really need are within the Bible.

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8

When I make it a habit to read a little of God’s Word daily, I learn something every day. I learn new perspectives. I learn about God’s hope and peace. I learn that Satan may win a few battles, but God wins the war.

9. Run from Sexual Immorality

He gives me a way out when I’m tempted to do wrong.

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Sexual immorality starts small but if it isn’t stopped gets out of control very quickly. People want to do whatever they want with whoever they want. And this leads to the world where we are currently living—a world where sex trafficking is a billion-dollar industry worldwide. 

But this isn’t God’s way. Everyone needs to put up boundaries and make themself accountable. When you are tempted in any way, you need to share that temptation with a trusted person. Bad actions desire secrecy and if they get it, they grow. Letting light in brings accountability and a way out.

10. Remember God Is with You

He will see me through to the end.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

As a Christian, God is with me every day. To help me. To love me. To bring me peace.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes 

Jennifer Heeren loves to write and wants to live in such a way that people are encouraged by her writing and her attitude. She loves to write devotional articles and stories that bring people hope and encouragement. Her cup is always at least half-full, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. She regularly contributes to Crosswalk. Her debut novel is available on Amazon. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Visit her at her website and/or on Facebook.