In my journey with the Lord, there’s been a deeper realization He’s been pressing on my heart about the importance of holy habits. Not habits rooted in striving—but habits rooted in presence. It’s felt like discovering a deeper well… one I knew I had access to but wasn’t quite willing to make the sacrifice in my younger years. Or, that’s how it felt.
But once I started activating this in my life, something unexpected happened.
I walked through one of the greatest spiritual attacks I’ve ever experienced.
I’m not saying that to scare you. I’m actually praying it does the opposite—because if you’re feeling stirred to go deeper with God, you need to know this: resistance doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. Often, it means you’re finally moving in the right direction.
Scripture reminds us in John that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy—but Jesus came so that we may have life, and life abundantly. So it’s no surprise that when we decide to press in deeper with God, there’s an enemy who will throw every possible distraction, delay, and detour in our path.
Why?
Because if he can keep us at a surface-level walk with God—doing just enough to feel spiritual, but still carrying battles God never meant us to carry—then he’s content.
But the moment we decide to go deeper…
To step into the fuller, richer, more intimate life God offers…
That’s when the pushback comes.
And yet, Scripture also reminds us: No weapon formed against you will prosper. The weapon may form—but it will not prevail. Why? Because the deeper we go with God, the greater His covering becomes. Just read Psalm 91.
Something powerful happens when we shift our lives away from the constant go-go-go this world defines as success. We don’t always realize it, but busyness—even “doing things for God”—can quietly validate our egos with a false thinking that "we’re living a good Christian life” while still starving our souls. Ouch. I know. That one stings.
But when we truly choose to shift—when we move from striving to dwelling—something changes. It’s beautiful. It’s deep. It’s life-altering.
The atmosphere of your heart begins to change.
Your mind begins to settle.
Your life begins to realign.
And once you’ve tasted that depth with God, you realize—you don’t want to go back, ever.
You see, the river of God is contagious. And I believe in the days we’re living in, choosing this depth isn’t optional—it’s vital.
Let me say this gently but honestly:
If we have time for social media…
If we have time to binge a show…
Then we do have time to go deeper with God.
And I know some of you might say, “But Tracee, I don’t even do those things—and I still don’t have time.”
My encouragement is simple: make time.
We can’t afford not to.
I spent enough of my younger years pursuing God a few days a week—doing all the “right” things. I was in ministry, leading worship, staying active… but I lacked deeply rooted holy habits. And I truly believe some seasons I walked through could have been different had I gone deeper sooner.
Here’s why this matters.
If you struggle with anxiety, insecurity, feeling unloved, abandoned, rejected…
If you carry guilt or shame…
If your faith feels fragile or inconsistent…and that’s not naming the entire list…
Developing holy habits isn’t the answer to fixing those things—it’s the way Jesus begins to fill the spaces where those things once tried to live, with His truth. And the more God’s truth takes root in you, the more those old things lose their place or positioning. They simply can’t remain.
I call this the great exchange.
As you dig into His Word, something begins to shift. You start exchanging your doubts for faith—the kind of faith that believes in the impossible. You begin exchanging anxiety for a peace that truly surpasses all understanding. And for some, you begin exchanging years of mourning, loss, and heaviness for what Scripture calls the oil of joy.
To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3 AMP (Classic)
This is what happens when Jesus fills your life. He doesn’t force things out—He gently crowds out what was never meant to stay. His Word renews your mind, reshapes your thinking, and transforms how you see, how you speak, and how you live.
It reminds me of this scripture:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (ESV)
What activates our faith to believe is hearing God’s Word! Getting it into your DNA is what turns your entire world upside down because God’s word is ALIVE!! And where His word is allowed to reside, the atmosphere always changes.
And it all begins with the most foundational holy habit of all: showing up daily with Jesus.
Because it’s all about one thing: relationship.
You wouldn’t go a day without speaking to the person you love most. Imagine waking up and never saying a word to your spouse. Eventually, the silence would speak louder than words.
Our walk with God is no different.
When we consistently choose not to commune with Him, it’s as if we’re saying, “Lord, I love You—but I don’t have time for You.” And from that silence, we begin carrying weights we were never meant to hold.
So here’s my invitation.
There’s no end date to this. No finale planned. I’m simply being obedient to what I sense the Holy Spirit leading me to share—weekly holy habits you can begin thinking about and gently but powerfully applying to your everyday life.
And one more thing—this is not about becoming perfect.
Give yourself grace because the Lord does.
If you miss a day… start again.
If you mess up… keep going.
God is not in heaven with folded arms and a disappointed look shaking His head. He’s kind. He’s patient. He’s tender. He’s loving. And He’s ecstatic that you’re choosing to go deeper. And get this, you’re given the promise that’ll He’ll meet you every step of the way.
Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. John 15:4 (AMPC)
So just keep showing up—daily, faithfully, honestly.
Because the beauty is this: God has already given us everything we need to live a beautiful life.
And it starts today.
Life More Abundantly
John 10:10 (AMP)
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
No weapon formed against you will prosper…
Isaiah 54:17 (NLT)
“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
The River of God
Ezekiel 47:9 (NLT)
“Wherever the river flows, everything will live.”
John 7:38 (NLT)
“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”
God Has Given Us Everything We Need
2 Peter 1:3 (AMP)
“For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”
Place Your Life Before God - Renewing of Your Mind
Romans 12:1-2 (MSG)
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Love it❤️