Today’s Holy Habits for Headspace post is written by my friend Brett Anderson – living legend, married to the lovely Val, and blogger at Irresistibly Fish. Also, creator of the hit series Dangerous things you can least expect. (He doesn’t really talk like this. He’s cool in real life.)

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In fact the very title of this series ‘Holy Habits for Headspace’ suggests the idea of intentionality, because that is where habits begin. But for me this word has been such a key to living well, the kind of life-to-the-fullness that Jesus calls all people to.

This is partly why I choose to identify myself as a Christ follower rather than a Christian. At the end of the day it’s a little semantical, except that the term ‘Christ follower’ contains the idea of forward movement. I am declaring myself to be someone who actively follows Christ. What does that mean? Someone who is intentional in living out what I believe. A ‘Christian’ on the other hand, sounds a bit more like a noun which as we all know is a thing. The idea of a thing for me is something that can just sit there and do nothing. As is sadly often the case.

But ‘Followers’ follow!

–          They observe carefully so that they can act and speak and react in a similar fashion.

–          They listen intently so that they can understand the words of their teacher.

–          They spend time reading the words of instruction and life and then look for opportunities to put them into practice.

You see a lot of people call themselves ‘Christian’. But too few of them look any different from the rest of the people in the world. Surely having a new name must mean something is new, something has to be different.

Romans 12:1-2 puts it well: ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’

So for me, the transformed mind speaks of intentionality – I am not talking so much of clever ideas as I am of submitting to the Holy Spirit and being led by His God-ideas for my life. How to live and love and speak and write and be.

I am also talking about the realisation that although we like to divide most of life into that which is ‘spiritual’ and that which is ‘secular’, all of life is in fact spiritual. Jesus wants to be invited and included and involved in every aspect of my life. And yours.

But probably the best habit I can encourage to help all of the rest of this take place on a regular basis is that of observing the simple yet profound command in Psalm 46.10 to ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’

Working that into your daily routine will help you to be intentional, effective and remain Spirit-filled.

Live to the full!

Follow me pic: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/files/2012/04/follow-me.jpg