As we prepare for a new year, many of us have fresh goals or resolutions on our minds. Those goals are often related to our health — whether spiritual, physical, relational, emotional, or financial.

Whatever the goal might be, it often requires a new habit. After all, most of us want more than one-time wins; we desire long-term transformation. In fact, habit formation is probably a better way to approach our hopes and dreams for the future.

I’m a big fan of goals, but I have to admit that author Jefferson Bethke makes a great observation when he says, “We are created for formation, not goal-setting.”

Bethke goes on to say, “Goals are usually about a finish line … something you can reach for and then be done once you accomplish it. Formations, on the other hand, aren’t about doing something but about being someone.”

Goals are about results, while formation is a process. Transformation through habit formation is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process. For Christians, transformation should be a lifelong process as we yield to the Spirit’s work in us and invite Him to form us more into the image of Christ.

Events inspire change, process creates change, and habits sustain change. In other words, every event needs a process to follow it. It’s in the process that you begin to change, and the outcome is usually a habit that sustains the change in your life.

But where does it all start? Before a habit can take root in our behavior, it must take root in our thinking. The apostle Paul said, “Do not conform any longer 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” (Romans 12:2).

Notice two principles in this verse that can help us develop healthy habits:

1. We need to reject unhealthy conformity. As human beings, we are prone to conformity. The struggle begins at an early age as we face peer pressure. But the truth is, we lean in the direction of conformity throughout our lives. Everybody wants to make a difference, but few of us want to be different.

Before a habit can
take root in our
behavior, it must
take root in our
thinking.

Yet Paul warns us not to conform to the world’s pattern. The NLT says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.” Phillips puts it this way: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.”

When we conform to the pattern of this world rather than the pattern of God’s truth, we’re behaving in a way that is inconsistent with who we are as followers of Christ. Instead of following the culture, we’re called to follow Jesus.

The worldly patterns to which Paul refers are beliefs, philosophies and practices that do not honor God and draw us closer to Him. To develop healthy habits, we have to reject the old ways of thinking — the ways of the world — that contributed to our bad habits in the first place.

2. We need renewal of the mind. It’s not enough to reject conformity; we must also deliberately renew our thinking. Romans 12:2 continues: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Each of us has a mental narrative. The loudest voices often dictate the content of that narrative. Your loudest voice might be negative self-talk. It might be a friend who gossips or a family member who tells you that you’re worthless. The voice you listen to is the one that will ultimately shape you.

Transformation happens when we deliberately listen to the voice of God by renewing our minds in His Word. We can let His truth drown out the noise of distracting and harmful messages.

The narrative of your mind didn’t form overnight, and it’s not going to change overnight either. You have to make mind renewal a daily practice. It’s not so much about how long it takes; it’s about consistency. Allow the Holy Spirit to renew your mind each and every day.

When you reject conformity and allow the Spirit to renew your mind, a shift in your thinking will take place that makes habit formation possible. In other words, to create a new habit, you have to reject the lies you once believed and open your heart to the possibility of transformation. If you don’t believe you’ll ever change, then you’ll never develop new habits.

When we take these steps — rejecting conformity and renewing our minds in Christ — we’ll be able to “test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). We obviously want to live out God’s will. Rejecting conformity and renewing our minds will help us develop the habits to do so.

As you prepare for the new year, what shift do you need to make in your thinking? When you change the narrative of your mind, you’ll change the direction of your life. It all starts with your thinking.