Many people ask me this question, often with a quiet hope in their voice: “Father, do the small things I do each day really matter for my faith?” And I always tell them yes—because the heart is formed not in grand moments, but in the quiet rhythms we return to again and again. Spiritual habits are simply ways we make space for God, and every time we make that space, something inside us softens and awakens.
One of the beautiful truths of Scripture is that God works gently within us. Jesus often prayed in silence before dawn; He withdrew to lonely places to be with the Father. Those moments were not dramatic, but they reveal something essential: faith deepens in the simple, steady practices that turn our attention toward God. Whether it’s reading a short passage of Scripture, whispering a prayer before sleep, or pausing to thank God during the day—these small choices slowly shape the soul to see differently.
The Church teaches us that grace builds on our daily openness. Spiritual habits—prayer, worship, Scripture, acts of charity—are not chores but invitations. They help us lean on God rather than on our shifting feelings. What this means for us is that faith becomes less fragile. It becomes something woven into our very way of living. Over time, these habits train our hearts to recognize God’s presence, even in ordinary moments.
And in daily life, you may notice something gentle happening. You become more patient without trying. You forgive more quickly. You find peace where you once felt fear. That’s what spiritual habits do: they give God room to form you from the inside out. Faith becomes not just something you believe, but something you live—quietly, steadily, and with growing trust.
May each small habit of faith become a doorway to God’s presence. And may your heart discover, one quiet moment at a time, that He is already near.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
