I hope you’re having a good start to 2019. As we look at this year, I encouraged you to consider what the shape of growth looks like for you. In other words, rather than focusing solely on goals—which are good—we discussed the type of person you want to be by the end of 2019.

Here’s what we know: goals point us in the right direction. But process gets us there.

When we talk about process, we’re talking about developing habits.

James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, describes the best way to create a process we love.

Take a habit you want to develop and:

• Make it obvious
• Make it attractive
• Make it easy
• Make it satisfying

Make it obvious - Put it in front of you so you can’t miss it. Set your workout clothes out the night before your morning run. Place your Bible on top of your phone. Make YouVersion the only app on your phone's home screen, moving everything else to other screens.

Make it attractive - Bundle a new habit with something you enjoy, like running with a good playlist, listening to the scriptures while commuting, or reading a devo with your coffee.

Make it easy - If it’s hard, you probably won’t do it, so remove obstacles. Leave a book by your nightstand. Write the names of your group members on your mirror to pray for them each time you walk by. Set a timer to turn off your TV.

Make it satisfying - Reward yourself for completing a habit, like preparing a smoothie before you go running so you can enjoy it when you get back.

If you take the area where God wants you to grow and make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying, chances are you’ll develop that into a habit, helping you become the person God is calling you to be.