Living a holy life can feel impossible or unrealistic today. The world is full of distractions.
Temptation is everywhere. We struggle with so many value systems that compete for our attention. Many people often think holiness means being perfect.
They also believe holiness is only attainable by a few highly spiritual individuals. Holiness, though, is not defined by perfection or the absence of mistakes.
Rather, holiness reflects your conscious decision to honor God through your thoughts, behaviors, and choices each day.
Holiness is about being distinctively different from the rest of the world. To live a holy life means choosing to pattern your life according to God’s will and character.
You avoid conforming to the world’s ways. This will take time. Living a holy life requires you to grow spiritually.
It takes effort, commitment, and determination. You strive to become more like Jesus. You don’t have to be ‘chosen’ by God to lead a holy life.
Everyone is called to lead a holy life if they choose to follow through with their spiritual practices.
They should make mindful decisions and rely on God’s direction.
We will share 10 ways to live a holy life. Everyone can apply them to obtain spiritual growth.
These ways help to develop strong faith. They create an everyday lifestyle of achieving God’s plan for you.
1. Understand What Holiness Truly Means
Thinking about how to live a holy life, then you need to understand what holiness actually is. Only then can you lead a holy life. Many people associate holiness with living a very strict or flawless life.
They think it means not making any mistakes. But it is not restricted to that. Rather, holiness involves being set apart for God. It also involves trying to become like Him in the way that you live your life.
Living a holy life starts with having a relationship with God. When a person decides to follow Him, their life will start to transform.
As this process continues, their values, choices, and actions will align with God’s will. The transformation into a holy person is gradual. It takes time and effort.
It does not happen all at once. Still, you will start to see many of these changes happen in your own life. This will occur as you continue to live your life for God.
The Bible provides evidence of God’s wish for His people to live holy lives. It also shows that He is a holy God. He desires for you to live your life according to His standard for holiness.
For example, in Leviticus 11:44, God made this statement:
I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.
Holiness is not merely a recommendation but rather a mandatory calling for every follower of God. Nevertheless, this is a calling, but it is not an encumbrance to carry.
Instead, it is an invitation into life as it ought to be. It is the way that reflects all of God’s goodness, love, and righteousness.
Holiness involves internal transformation in each of us. It also includes the way we act on the outside. Holiness begins within us, in our thoughts, attitudes, and desires.
It is demonstrated externally through how we treat others, make decisions, and live day-to-day.
The apostle Peter reminds believers of this calling in 1 Peter 1:15–16:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Realizing that holiness isn’t about being perfect or appearing religious helps us to understand something important. God wants you to develop through your life.
You should grow into someone who looks more like Him every day. It is important to comprehend what holiness actually means. Then, take steps to start living in ways that honor God.
Read Also: 7 Scriptures Every Believer Should Declare Daily for Faith, Strength & Victory
2. Develop a Consistent Prayer Life
A consistent prayer life is an integral part of living holy. Communicating with God through regular communication enhances our relationship. It does so just like any other relationship.
Prayer is used to ask God for things. It is also a way to thank Him and worship. Through prayer, we confess sins and seek His guidance.
By praying, we can grow in our awareness of the presence of God in our lives. We can also understand how God leads us.
The Bible has passages which encourage believers to incorporate prayer into their everyday lives. One such example is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17:
Pray without ceasing.
Being connected to God is something we should want every moment of every day. One way you can do this is through prayer.
Although being the Son of God, He often went away alone to pray. In Luke 5:16 it states:
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Jesus made prayer top priority, which means prayer is an important part of who we are. Prayer provides us with faith, keeps our hearts aligned to God’s ways, and gives us strength to overcome temptation.
To create a good prayer life, start slowly. Take small steps to build up to a consistent pattern of praying. You want to pick a time each day (morning, evening or both) to pray as you communicate with God.
Over time, your prayer life will continue to grow. Prayer will become something that comes naturally. It will also become a powerful part of your everyday life.
As you continue to pray daily, praying regularly will guide your thinking. It will help you make better decisions. It will also encourage you to focus on being the type of Christian that God wants you to be.
3. Study and Apply Scripture
To have a blameless lifestyle, we must live righteously. This requires regular study and application of God’s word (the Bible). The Bible gives us direction and teaches us how to live, to think, and how to treat each other.
Without reading the Bible, we can’t know God’s will for our life.
The Bible teaches us what God is like. It tells us what God has promised us. It gives us wisdom to make good choices in our daily lives. The Bible builds up our faith.
It keeps us anchored in truth when everything else around us is saying otherwise.
The Bible also talks about how important it is for Christians to read the Bible as guidance in their pursuit of a righteous lifestyle; in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it reads:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. This is so that the servant of God is thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible provides both instruction on how to do what is right. It also offers correction when we do not do things correctly. This guidance helps us develop a character like God’s character.
Yet, merely reading the Bible will not help us as much as applying what we have learned from it. In James 1:22 (NLT), the apostle James gives advice to Christians.
He tells them to “not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves.” They should also “do what the Word says.”
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
When applying scripture there are several ways in which you can achieve this. You want to change your bad habits. You should choose to forgive someone who has wronged you.
It also mean showing more kindness towards others. Lastly, it is about making the right choice when in a difficult situation.
When we allow God’s Word to influence how we act, God will start transforming our identity. This change happens from the inside out.
Daily reading time with God’s Word will help keep your heart and mind focused on the things of God. You can use devotionals, read through study guides, or spend time alone in prayer.
Eventually, the scriptures will become a source of wisdom, encouragement, and strength for you to live a godly life.
4. Guard Your Thoughts
Our thinking is the beginning phase of living a Holy Life. Our thoughts usually translate into our speech, behavior, and choices.
Allowing negative, wicked, or destructive thoughts to manifest can lead us further from God’s will. It is essential to guard our thoughts to help us in living holy.
The Bible teaches transformation occurs internally; as stated in Romans 12:2:
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Thinking about your mind in different ways means focusing on thoughts that show God’s truth.
You should avoid the values of the world. Being aware of what you expose yourself to (i.e., television, music, books, etc.) during your daily experiences is part of developing that focus.
The Apostle Paul provides some direction on what types of thoughts believers ought to dwell upon. He does this in Philippians 4:8.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable, think about such things. If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, focus on these.
Our thoughts will show our values and who we are as a people. When we fill our minds with uplifting and wholesome things, it becomes easier to choose ways to honor God.
Conversely, continually subjecting ourselves to negative influences can weaken our spiritual lives.
To guard our thoughts, we can use various techniques. These approaches include establishing boundaries about unhealthy media and avoiding tempting situations.
We can also replace negative thought processes with prayer and/or Scripture readings. Over time, these strategies can result in developing a mindset that is conducive to living a holy and God-centered lifestyle.
Read Also: 10 Ways to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
5. Choose Your Influences Wisely
The individuals we associate with and the surroundings where we live can have a profound effect on who we are. Our acquaintances can enhance our relationship with Christ. What we see, read, and hear contributes as well.
The interactions we engage in can hinder us from participating in holy living. Thus, it is critical to select your associations carefully.
The Scriptures teach us that the people we choose to associate with can influence our behavior and personality traits. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 the Apostle Paul states
Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’
This passage serves as a reminder. When we continually expose ourselves to negativity, it becomes harder for us to follow God’s plan. We should reach out to everyone with love and compassion.
At the same time, we need strong friendships with those who prompt us to grow in our spirituality.
Being with others who have similar beliefs will help reinforce our commitment to holy living. Additionally, these friends can be sources of encouragement.
They offer accountability and support during challenging times. A biblical reference supporting the importance of this type of friendship can be found in Proverbs 27:17:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
This is true not just for friendships but also for your choices of media and entertainment. Your choices in what you listen to, watch and read can affect your mindset. They also help to shape the way you make decisions.
By choosing media that reflects your core values, you protect your heart and mind. This choice guards against things that harm you.
Choose media and friends that are uplifting and supportive. This creates a positive environment for yourself. It lets you continue your spiritual development journey. You can live out your commitment to holy living.
6. Practice Self-Discipline
Living according to God’s standards involves, among other things, practicing self-discipline. To have self-discipline means you can exercise discipline over your wants or desires. It also means controlling your actions.
It involves managing your habits. All of these should show God’s will for your life. Everyone faces unique challenges with temptations and difficulties.
Self-discipline helps believers make decisions that show God’s character. This prevents them from reacting to their own impulses.
The Word of God(teaches), as one example, explains that self-control is a foundational part in the growth of Christians. Galatians 5:22–23 holds a list of the fruits of the (Holy) Spirit; one of these fruits is self-control:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The development of self-control is enhanced through the assistance of the Holy Spirit and the relationship you have with God.
There are several different ways you can practice self-discipline in your life. You can resist temptations. You manage your time effectively. Control what comes out of your mouth.
Or pick good habits that encourage your relationship with Jesus. An example would be making a commitment to pray regularly and vigorously. You should read the Bible consistently.
Join in church activities. Each one requires self-discipline and promotes spiritual maturity.
Additionally, Paul speaks of the value of discipline in his letter to the church in 1 Corinthians 9:27 when he writes:
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
In this comparison by Paul, spiritual discipline is being compared to athletics. Athletes work hard to improve their physical bodies through various techniques.
They do this to achieve their desired goal. The same way, believers need to work hard at improving themselves to become more like God. (i.e., word of God).
Developing self-discipline can be very difficult to achieve. Yet, it gives you the opportunity to develop a stable and dependable character.
It also enables you to live your life according to God’s will. Over a long period, these disciplined actions form a holy lifestyle. This transformation happens in front of God and others.
7. Live with Integrity
Being a part of the church as a Christian means having a holy lifestyle. It also involves integrity as part of our way of living. Integrity means to have the attributes of honesty and consistency and to have your character exemplify all moral excellence.
Integrity indicates that you have a heart that desires to honor God with your actions. When you have integrity, your inner character is sincere. It does not focus merely on outer appearances.
People with integrity will stand firm in their values. They will not be swayed by the situation or by people around them. Rather, they will always adhere to the principles of truth and righteousness.
The Bible outlines this values system. It teaches us that having integrity is extremely important in our lives as Christians. Proverbs 10:9 declares,
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
In this verse, we see that living with integrity will create a foundation. Truthfulness will give stability. Honesty also gives us peace. But, dishonesty will eventually lead us to face the consequences of our actions.
Building trust towards others through integrity also strengthens our relationship with God.
A passage that also encourages believers to live with integrity can be found in Colossians 3:23:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Everything we do should be done honestly. Whether it is at a job, in a home, or in public, our actions should intend to glorify God.
Integrity can involve making tough decisions like stating the truth when it’s difficult. It also mean not assisting someone who is in the wrong or standing firm on your beliefs. But, those decisions build a character of holiness.
When you incorporate integrity as part of who you are, you become an example to those around you. You foster growth in how you live in an honorable manner to God.
8. Serve Others with Love
The meaning of the word “holy” is multifaceted. It relates to how we connect with God individually. It also involves how we interact with those around us. When we serve others with love, we show our wish to fulfill our calling.
We are called to join in God’s redemptive plan. Service is a reflection of God’s nature and a way for us to show His love through our actions.
Furthermore, when we focus on others’ needs over our own, we reach out with compassion. By doing so, we become living examples of Christ.
Throughout the Bible, God emphasizes the importance of serving others. For example, in Galatians 5:13 God commands:
Serve one another humbly in love.
We serve with humility because we truly care about what we are doing. We also serve because we are obeying God. Those whose hearts are aligned with God’s purpose do true service.
It is not done by those who are looking for recognition or reward for their actions.
Jesus demonstrated what it meant to live holy lives through His life on earth. He demonstrated service through His words in Mark 10:45 by saying of himself:
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus, the Son of God, came to serve others. This makes it clear to us that serving others is a vital part of holy living. Acts of service can be great or small.
Acts of Service can include volunteering at a local charity. They can also involve mentoring someone who is struggling to find their way in life. Regardless of the size of the act of service, each act of love has meaning to God.
When we serve others, we help protect ourselves from pridefulness and selfishness by focusing on others instead of ourselves. Serving others reminds us that holiness is more than just growing spiritually ourselves.
It also entails improving the lives of those we serve. Through serving others, we find joy in being an example of God’s love. We also live out our faith through actions.
Read Also: How to Strengthen Faith During Difficult Times
9. Repent Quickly and Learn from Mistakes
All people make mistakes, which is to say that people make mistakes occasionally while striving toward being Christ-like or holy. So, there is room for improvement.
When I speak of being repented from sin and/or darkness, I should also add this. Stumbling in the light does not mean I am no longer holy.
The Bible tells us that God will forgive, and He has provided us with the means to do so. I find this in 1 John 1:9. It states, “If we confess (acknowledge) our sins, God is faithful and just.
He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We strengthen our relationship with our Creator God when we are cleansed from our unrighteous acts of sin. This cleansing also allows for continued spiritual growth.
Staying in darkness/making no further progress/spiritual stagnation is a result of ignoring or concealing one’s sin(s). The opposite, or light, involves repenting of one’s sins.
This gives us the opportunity for personal transformation. It allows us to receive God’s freedom through healing.
Learning from your mistakes is just as important as learning from your successes. Each time you fall, it will reveal your weaknesses. It will show areas of temptation.
It also shows how you are missing out on your spiritual growth.
The verse Proverbs 24:16 says: “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
This scripture verse shows that falling down is not failure. It is an opportunity to learn and get back up. It helps us become closer to God. When we repent quickly, we think about our actions.
We consider how they not have been pleasing to Him. By doing this, we develop traits like humility and resilience. These traits help us live holy lives.
Ultimately living a holy life has more to do with progressing towards your goal rather than achieving perfection. Every time we recognize a mistake, we turn to God for help.
We seek forgiveness and strive to make changes in our lives. In doing so, we move closer towards fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. By constantly practicing repentance, we keep our hearts gentle.
We guarantee our consciences are clean. We align our lives with what God wants us to do.
10. Stay Connected to a Faith Community
That it is not possible to live a holy life alone. Fellowship with a faith community (e.g., a local church, small group, or spiritual fellowship) helps you be supported, encouraging, and held accountable to one another.
This reminder highlights that holiness is a collective journey. It is not a singular pursuit. It provides an extra layer of fellowship with other believers who share your values.
They help to remind you that you are not the only one on this journey.
Why Fellowship Is Important:
The ability to grow through shared experiences in a community is a valuable attribute. It is one of the benefits of belonging to a faith community.
Worshiping, living, and praying for one another as a body of believers encourages you to support each other. It helps build your faith in God’s word together.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we are encouraged to say:
“and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Conclusion
The journey of living a holy life is not just a one-time achievement. Instead, every day we must choose to honor God through our thoughts, words, and actions.
We develop a daily prayer life. We serve others in love. By doing these, we take steps towards the transformation God wants to achieve in our hearts.
Living a holy life does not need being perfect; though, it does demand growing, repenting and relying on God’s strength. Every effort you put into living faithfully is of value.
As you use these principles in your life, you will find something important. Holiness is about being in a genuine and lively relationship with God. It is not simply about obeying the guidelines.
Take a step today and know that God will lead you down the path of spiritual growth that will last.
