Hint: It All Leads to God
How Three Simple Habits Changed my Life
Last week, I wrote about three habits I believe can lead to a better life: gratitude, scripture reading, and prayer. These three rhythms have become the most important part of my morning.
I grab a cup of coffee, curl up in the big chair in my upstairs loft—my favorite perch where I can see the distant mountains of Virginia—and begin the day with my journal and my iPad. There, in that quiet space, I read scripture, pray, and focus on what I’m grateful for.
When I first said I’d write about each of these habits in depth over the coming weeks, that was exactly my intention. But as I sat down to begin the first essay on gratitude, I realized there was something more I wanted to say first. Something foundational. Why are these three habits so effective? Why do I believe they hold the same transformative power as daily exercise or healthy eating?
Let me explain with a story.
My Morning Funnel
Every morning, I make coffee with a simple pour-over ceramic cone that sits atop my mug. It brews just enough for one large cup, which is exactly all I need.
One morning, I couldn’t find it. In a pinch, I grabbed a plastic kitchen funnel and used that instead. It worked just fine, and I texted a picture to my brother John, reminding him of his most valuable advice to me:
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
That photo has stayed with me—not just because it made me laugh, but because it gave me a metaphor. That little funnel became a symbol for what these three habits do for my spiritual life.
Just as the funnel guides the water through the coffee grounds into the mug, the three daily habits gently, inexorably, draw me into the presence of God.
Gratitude Grounds Us
"Gratitude grounds us in the present moment."
So much of life is spent chasing what’s next: what we want to accomplish, where we want to go, what we’re saving for. The striving never ends.
But gratitude stops the clock for just a moment. It invites us to breathe deeply and say, “In this moment, no matter how I feel—whether full or empty—I can name three things I’m thankful for.”
Even if they’re as simple as I’m alive.
Scripture Roots Us
"Scripture reminds us we’re not alone in our emotions or our struggles."
When I read the Bible—especially the Psalms—I’m reminded of our shared humanity. The praise, the lamentations, the yearning and celebration—they root us in the long, sacred story of being humans who have pursued God, turned to God, have been healed by God, and most importantly, our sacred scriptures show us that we have had a relationship with God since the first moments of our creation.
Prayer Connects Us
"These habits funnel us toward the Source of all that is good."
Gratitude grounds us. Scripture reminds us we’re part of something bigger—rooted, connected, known by God. And that naturally leads to prayer, our conversation with God.
Not fancy or perfect prayer, but simply a conversation with the God who loves us, who created us, who walks with us.
"Daily prayer reminds us we are never alone—we walk this journey with God."
When that conversation becomes a rhythm, a habit, we begin to see our lives differently. We are not alone. We are with God.
And we are part of a community of others who love Him too.
This is the first in a short series on the daily habits that shape a life of faith.
Next time, I’ll go deeper into gratitude—how it changes the way we see the world, and how even the smallest thank-you can be a doorway to joy.
Until then, maybe start with a single step:
Find three things today to be grateful for. Just three.
Let them ground you, in this present moment, and remind you of all that you already have.